trial

Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Lawyer Claims Sex With His Accuser Was Consensual

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Cuba Gooding Jr.‘s lawyer, Gary Becker, says that his client had consensual sex with the woman who has accused him of raping her inside a New York City hotel room in 2013. Becker explained his plans for the trial to US District Court Judge Paul A. Crotty during a status conference in Manhattan federal court. He said that the defense will call two witnesses to trial who claim that the accuser returned to the bar where she met Gooding earlier in the same night and boasted about having consensual sex with him. Becker’s co-counsel, Ed Sapone, stated afterward that they actually have three witnesses from the bar.

The accuser, identified as “Jane Doe,” brought a lawsuit against Gooding in 2020, claiming that the actor raped her at Manhattan’s Mercer hotel in 2013. They had met at a bar in Greenwich Village earlier in the night. She says that she repeatedly told Gooding “no” and that he also attacked her a second time before she could flee the room.

Cuba Gooding Jr. In Court

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 13: Cuba Gooding Jr. Arrives at NYS Supreme Court for sentencing on October 13, 2022 in New York City. The Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., plead guilty to charges of forcible touching and sex abuse. The criminal charges Gooding plead guilty to were brought against him after a worker at a New York nightclub alleged he forcibly kissed her, while he also faced charges stemming from three other incidents in which he stood accused of forcible touching or abuse. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

A defense attorney for Jane Doe, Casey Wolnowski, says that he’s “aware of these witnesses” but “vehemently denies their views on what transpired.” He added that he’s “confident the jury is going to give” his client’s testimony “the weight it deserves.”

A trial date for the case has not been set, but both parties discussed options on Monday. Judge Crotty confirmed he wants it done in 2023. “We’re not putting the trial off for a year,” he said, according to Insider. Crotty also complained about Gooding Jr’s team bringing up issues with evidence prepared by the accuser. “The time for discovery is over. Let’s get on with the trial,” the judge said.

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Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial Will Reportedly Call 1,200 Potential Jurors

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Young Thug’s RICO trial will reportedly call 1,200 potential jurors for evaluation, according to legal documents obtained by AllHipHop. While authorities arrested Thug and the rest of the YSL codefendants almost a year ago, the trial still isn’t underway. Moreover, it’s been subject to a lengthy and delayed jury selection process, which is no closer to completion after hundreds of participants. Furthermore, this selection process could take several more months, which only means more time behind bars in this high-profile case.

Still, the documents read as such: “The Jury Clerk shall send a sufficient number of subpoenas to result in the appearance of an additional 1200 prospective trial jurors: 300 on February 24, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.; 300 on March 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM; 300 on April 28, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.; and 300 on May 19, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. The prospective jurors will watch a pre-recorded reading of the indictment for this case and hear preliminary jury instructions from Chief Judge Glanville on these respective dates.” In addition, prospective jurors will have to answer a questionnaire from the court under oath and participate in “potential hardships” examinations, which aim to identify factors such as mental or physical disability.

Young Thug Trial Evaluating 1,200 Jurors

Meanwhile, Thugger’s list of witnesses includes accomplished music executives Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles. While his trial seems no closer to completion than it was months ago, at least he has people on his side. In the months left in the jury selection process, perhaps they’ll take advantage of the extra time to really think about what will go down- and how they’ll go about it. Meanwhile, many on social media and beyond are concerned for a witness’s life after an interrogation video leaked. Afterwards, many called the witness a rat and threatened his safety.

“This is a murder that’s about to take place with some very hot people,” they said in the leak. “And [inaudible] the stuff that I know right now should be able to help me get out my situation.” While it’s unclear whether this report refers to Lil Woody, if it’s not, that was another case of alleged snitching that many threatened. “It puts people’s lives in danger,” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis stated. “My worst fear is that it is used as an intimidating tactic and people might be hurt.” Also, she wants Judge Glanville to open an investigation into the leak, which many believe might’ve come from the defense. However, defense attorney Keith Adams denied such claims, and pushed back on the D.A. wanting to restrict court access to the video. Regardless, stick around on HNHH for the latest on Young Thug and the YSL RICO case.

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Detective Testifies In XXXTentacion Trial

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A detective involved in the investigation into the murder of XXXTentacion has taken the stand in the trial of those accused of killing the South Florida rapper. He says that suspect Dedrick Williams changed his story several times. He also confirmed that the suspect never mentioned Drake, Migos, or any other rap groups as having hired him. The defense previously suggested that Drake may have been involved in the killing.

On the stand, the detective explained that Williams changed his story for a third time after being told that the property had security cameras. In addition to Williams, Michael Boatwright and Trayvon Newsome have also been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery regarding X’s death. The group faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The Detective’s Testimony

As for Drake’s involvement, the defense cited a tweet from XXXTentacion prior to his death during their opening statements. “Before X died, he said, ‘If anybody kills me, it’s Drake.’ Do you think sitting here years later, any detective has ever asked Drake or anybody like that? No,” attorney Mauricio Padilla said according to Complex. “This is one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Excluding an order from this court, we all know that I will never be able to take his deposition.”

They ended up getting their wish and Drake has a deposition scheduled for February 24. “If deponent Aubrey Drake Graham does not appear to deposition he must appear before this court on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at 10 a.m. EST at so [sic] the court can determine why he should not be held in contempt,” the motion reads. Outside of the out of context tweet from X, there’s no other evidence of Drake being involved in his killing.

Fans mostly responded to the detective’s testimony with doubt about Drake’s involvement. “They want tickets to Drake’s concerts so badly,” one wrote on a post from DJ Akademiks. Another added: “They want drake so damn bad. It should be illegal to try and drag a random man into court for a MURDER case and potentially ruin his career or life. It’s so weird.”

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YSL RICO Trial: Jury Selection Becoming Increasingly Difficult

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The YSL case continues as new developments emerge regularly, even before any of the defendants appeared in court. Over the past two months, there have been shocking updates and incidents in court. At one point, Young Thug nearly faced new charges after a co-defendant handed him a Percocet pill inside the courtroom. The individual was immediately reprimanded and found with other substances on his person. Then, there was a recent update surrounding two defense attorneys who revealed they were pregnant.

However, the most strenuous process as part of this case is jury selection. Since the beginning of the process, there have been many delays and issues surrounding those who might serve on the jury. A judge ordered one potential juror to write an essay on the importance of jury selection after skipping town on a vacation. Then, another faced a contempt charge for allegedly contacting a reporter. 

Jury Selection In YSL Case Drawn Out 

At this point, it seems as though it’s going to take a long time before the actual trial starts. Jury selection in the YSL RICO trial has undoubtedly been drawn out for over a month as more potential jurors entered the court. Per Fox 5 Atlanta, hundreds of potential jurors have been summoned to the court, though there has been an abundance of hardship deferrals since there’s a chance the case will be nearly a year long. So far, the defense and prosecutors have yet to find a single juror for the case.

It seems as though the jury selection process is on par with predictions that it would last up to four months. Since the case includes a number of co-defendants, as well as high-profile suspects, the trial for Young Thug and YSL will undoubtedly take significantly longer than it would any other case. However, it appears that defense attorneys are hoping for a mistrial. Earlier this week, footage of YSL Woody inside an interrogation room surfaced. In the clip, Woody reveals information about YSL and Young Thug as well as the ongoing feud with YFN Lucci. An attorney for one of the defendants recently filed a motion to dismiss the trial. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates regarding the case. 

XXXTENTACION Fan Explains Posting Snapchat Of Late Rapper After His Death

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Celebrity trials have been steadily feeding the news cycle lately. The final months of 2022 saw Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s demise play out in court, and Tory Lanez has been behind bars since December in the aftermath of his legal battle with Megan Thee Stallion. Most recently, we’re finally seeing the murder trial for XXXTENTACION, who was tragically killed in 2018, play out.

The past few weeks have brought forward plenty of interesting information. Among the headlines, we’ve seen Drake narrowly escaping a deposition as well as defense lawyers attempting to use the late rapper’s alleged cheating against him posthumously. The latter was denied last week, and during recent sessions, the topics of conversation have become more serious.

On Tuesday (February 14), Scott Barbieux gave his testimony. The young man is a fan of XXXTENTACION, and he and his ex-girlfriend happened to be shopping at RIVA Motorsports on the same day as him. They were checking out bikes when the robbery and fatal shooting of the Florida native took place before their eyes. When the criminals fled the scene, Barbieux approached the artist’s body before taking a photo and posting it on Snapchat.

During court, Prosecutor Pascale Achille spoke with the witness, asking, “Do you recall taking a photograph with your phone of Mr. Onfroy after he was shot and seated in his vehicle?” He responded yes, and when pressed for an explanation as to why Barbieux explained that he “was a big fan” and “wanted to have a photo to remember that forever.”

In this handout provided by the Miami Dade County Corrections, Rapper XXXTentacion, also known as Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy poses for his mugshot after being charged with seven new felonies stemming from a 2016 domestic violence case on December 15, 2017 in Miami, Florida. The new charges are for witness tampering and harassment. (Photo by Miami Dade County Corrections via Getty Images)

Before the shooting took place, he and his girlfriend crossed paths with XXX elsewhere in the motorcycle shop. At the time he asked for a photo but was denied the opportunity. After witnessing the shooting, Barbieux says he touched the father of one’s body before taking the photo. After giving him a shake, he realized that the young performer had passed on.

Achille asked the witness if he was compensated for his Snapchat upload, to which he said, “No.” Barbieux also noted that the photo was taken down immediately so it didn’t have a chance to go viral. Read more recent updates from the courthouse here, and listen to the aforementioned testimony in the video below at the 4:48:56 mark.

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FKA Twigs & Shia LaBeouf’s Trial Facing Delays Due To Hectic Work Schedules

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Unfortunately for FKA Twigs, her love life has frequently become tabloid fodder over the years. She previously dated Twilight star Robert Pattinson. Their relationship, unfortunately, fell apart partially due to the racism she endured at the hands of the franchise’s fans. Aside from that, the time she spent romancing former child star Shia LaBeouf has also caught the public’s eye.

The pair first met in 2018 on the set of Honey Boy and found themselves falling for one another quickly. According to Femstella, the film’s creator “dramatically professed his love” just a week or two into dating. By October of that year, LaBeouf convinced Twigs to join him at his home in Los Angeles. This is when their union became abusive in nature.

Court documents allege that the Disney alumn would berate and verbally assault the English actress for hours at a time. He also reportedly trapped her in their bedroom for lengthy periods. At that time he was suffering from delusions that gang members would break into their home. LaBeouf apparently slept with a rifle by the couple’s bedside. He also forced Twigs to watch documentaries specifically focusing on murdered women.

By November 2018, the Caprisongs vocalist began her plan to escape, though in February 2019 she woke up to find her partner “violently squeezing her body and arms.” Around the same time, the 35-year-old was knowingly infected with an STD by the Holes actor, who admitted to being diagnosed a year earlier and attempting to hide his flare-ups from her. In the months after this, they finally went their separate ways, and by December 2020, Twigs filed a lawsuit.

FKA Twigs attends Simone Rocha at The Great Hall at Lincoln’s Inn during London Fashion Week February 2022 on February 20, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/Getty Images)

The “killer” songstress is suing LaBeouf for sexual battery, battery assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and gross negligence. As Radar Online notes, their trial was due to begin on April 17th, though it’s now facing delays until much later this year. Most likely, we’ll see the former couple in court on November 1st or December 6th.

Lawyers for both parties provided an update to the court earlier this week. Twigs’ states that she lives out of the country and is currently “working on entertainment projects.” For her ex, the story is mostly the same as he’s been busy filming Francis Ford Coppola’s $100M epic, Megalopolis. The actor has been spotted in various feminine costumes as of late, including gold sky-high heels and sheer white dresses.

At this time, a judge has yet to sign off on the trial’s postponement, but because neither star has sat for a deposition, it’s likely the motion will be approved. While LaBeouf is hard at work on his potential industry comeback, Twigs is eagerly awaiting The Crow reboot, which finds her starring opposite Bill Skarsgård. Read all about the role she plays in that here, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.

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XXXTentacion Murder Trial: Ex-GF Of Defendant Delivers Key Testimony

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During the ongoing trial of XXXTentacion‘s 2018 murder, defendant Dedrick Williams’s former girlfriend Tenell Carter took to the stand. Her testimony revealed shocking news to the courtroom. Williams, along with Robert Allen and Michael Boatwright are currently on trial for allegedly killing X. All three defendants face life without parole sentence. The trial commenced on February 7th and has been ongoing in Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit.

Carter took the stand this week to testify for the prosecution about her knowledge of the defendant’s alleged involvement. In Carter’s examination, it is revealed that Williams was not only allegedly at the assassination but also knew those involved. While on the stand, the witness was asked, “Dedrick Williams actually told you that he was present during the robbery and the homicide of Jahseh Onfroy, did he not,” to which she replied, “yes ma’am.” Afterward, the question was followed up with, “did he tell you that he also saw the robbery occur by the shooter and another gunman, correct?” and “and he told you you knew them personally?” Carter confirmed both questions.

Defendant Allegedly At The Scene Of The Crime

The prosecution also questioned the involvement of other celebrities who are involved in the case. She asked carter, “did he ever tell you that the shooting of Jahseh Onfroy had anything to do with Drake.” After Carter’s response of “no,” the prosecution continued to question any knowledge the witness had obtained. Specifically, about Migos, DJ Akademiks, Joe Budden, or any other Toronto connections. Carter then affirmed that she had never heard anything from Williams about their involvement.

This week, Drake’s motion to avoid his deposition on the case was granted. The Toronto rapper was initially held under suspicion after Williams’s defense attorney noted how he was never investigated after the murder, especially given the circumstances of his beef with XXXTentacion. But after Drake’s attorney proved the lack of connection between Drizzy and the case at hand. Subsequently, the judge granted him a pardon from having to take the stand for cross-examination. As the case proceeds to unfold, the prosecution continues to squash unproductive conspiracy theories.

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Buffalo Gunman Sentenced To Life Without Parole, Family Member Attempts To Attack Him In Court

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Nine months following the gruesome mass shooting in Buffalo, NY, gunman Payton Gendron has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. The 19-year-old domestic terrorist had killed 10 people during a racially fueled attack of an East Buffalo grocery store. According to the New York Times, Gendron is “an avowed white supremacist.” He specifically targeted the Tops Friendly Market based on its primarily black customer base. All of the deceased victims were black.

Grieving family members testified in front Gendron, who offered an apology for his actions. Sheryl Crawley, the granddaughter of victim Ruth Whitfield, called the gunman “a cowardly racist.” She continued her powerful testimony directed at not only Gendron, but also the larger movement behind his motives. “You recorded the last moments of our loved ones’ lives to garner support for your hateful cause, but you immortalize them instead,” she explained. “We are extremely aware that you are not a lone wolf, but a part of a larger organized network of domestic terrorists. And to that network, we say we as a people are unbreakable.”

A Trial Filled With Raw Emotions

Other family members also spoke out, including Zeneta Everhart whose son Zaire was one of the three surviving victims. She hauntingly told Gendron, “the world says you have to forgive in order to move on. But I stand before you today to say that will never happen.” Gendron’s sentencing had been interrupted twice by emotionally distraught family members. One member of the gallery had lunged at Gendron, but was restrained. Another had interrupted his personal statement by screaming at the defendant. Presiding over the case was Judge Susan Eagan, who acknowledged the anger harboring within the audience, but calmly consoled the court back to order.

Judge Eagan also prepared a statement regarding racism and white supremacy that she read to the courtroom. She referred to the ideologies as an “insidious cancer on our society and nation.” The gunman was merely 18 at the time of his horrific act of terrorism but had thoroughly pre-planned the May 14th attack. Gendron had even gone to the lengths to live-stream the shooting. Allegedly, the killer had previously expressed his desire to commit a school shooting in 2021 but was never flagged for posing a threat. Now, Gendron will be permanently locked behind bars. Judge Eagan told the gunman during trial, “you will never see the light of day as a free man again.”

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XXXTENTACION Murder Suspect Denied Drake’s Involvement

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In the latest update in the XXXTENTACION murder trial, former codefendant Robert Allen denied Drake’s involvement. Moreover, Allen testified against his former codefendants in court and pleaded guilty to lesser charges. On Friday (February 10), Allen told the court he never met Drake and didn’t even know who X was when they robbed and shot him. Also, he answered a series of yes-or-no questions from a defendant’s attorney during a cross-examination. As Mauricio Padilla pressed on, representing Dedrick Williams, Allen answered each prompt to form his testimony above.

ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 9: Rapper Drake performs onstage during “Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert” at State Farm Arena on December 9, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

“So your testimony to this court and to this jury is that you were never on the set of [Drake’s] ‘God’s Plan’ video, filmed in Miami in 2018? Is that what you’re saying?,” the attorney asked in newly released footage. “How much money in 2018 did you receive from either Drake or one of Drake’s associates?” However, Allen said he never met Drake. “You never met Drake?” Padilla continued. “You know who he is though, right?” Allen replied affirmatively, and the lawyer went on. “But actually, in 2018 when this crime occurred, you didn’t know who X was? In 2018, you’re from Broward County, correct? You listen to rap music, correct? And you’re telling this jury that you didn’t know who literally probably the most famous rapper to ever come out of Broward County was in June of 2018? That’s your testimony?”

To be fair, it’s an incredibly murky and delicate situation. While some details of the testimony are odd, the Drake theory rests on hazy connections to begin with. Moreover, the two rappers had a mostly one-sided beef. The Florida rapper aired out frustrations with Drake’s “God’s Plan” visuals and stealing his flow musically. Later, he tweeted “If anyone tries to kill me it was [Drake],” although he claimed someone hacked him.

Still, the ambiguity of the case didn’t stop defense lawyers from dragging Drake into a potential witnesses list. In fact, the court summoned the 6 God for a February 24 deposition, which will likely rule him out of the case. Regardless of what you think of these developments, let us know what you believe in the comments down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on the XXXTENTACION murder trial.

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Jurors See Graphic Video Of XXXTentacion Murder

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After years of preparation and investigation, the trial for the murder of Jahseh Onfroy is underway. Better known globally as XXXTentacion, Onfroy was gunned down in his home state in the summer of 2018. Four people were arrested in connection with the crime, and three are currently on trial after their accomplice turned state’s witness. Robert Allen has taken the stand against Michael Boatwright, 27, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24. He detailed the plot to rob Onfroy.

CBS News further reported that the jury sat through the full surveillance video that showed the moment Onfroy was killed. That day, the rapper withdrew $50,000 from a back and later visited a motorbike shop. He was sitting in his BMW about to leave the parking lot when he was accosted but the group and shot in his driver’s seat.

MIAMI BEACH, FL – OCTOBER 06: Rapper XXXTentacion attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2017 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater on October 6, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET )
Read More: XXXTentacion Defendant Takes Stand As State’s Witness

Robert Allen, 26, reportedly pleaded guilty to second-degree murder back in August 2022. The other defendants are all looking at first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. Attorneys for the defense further argued that Allen was lying about the botched robbery to save his own skin. Allen claimed he and the defendants conspired on June 17, the day before the murder, to rent a vehicle. The purpose was to drive around the city and rob people. They reportedly purchased masks, armed themselves with guns, and went to find potential victims.

“Deidrick said it’s XXX,” Allen said of running into Onfroy by chance. The group quickly constructed a plan. They allegedly waited for Onfroy to leave the store. In the video jurors saw, the crew’s Dodge SUV blocked Tentacion’s car and prevented him from leaving. CBS News also reported, “Two men, one of them armed with a long-barrel rifle, went to his car to demand his jewelry and take his designer bag.”

Read More: XXXTentacion’s Uncle Recounts Day Of Rapper’s Murder

Another person was in the car with Onfroy when he was murdered, but they ran for safety. They were described as a relative. “I couldn’t see or hear what XXX was saying,” Allen also claimed. He didn’t get out of the vehicle because “I knew there was a good chance I would get caught. I did not want to get arrested.” Because he didn’t leave the SUV, Allen was only given $5,000 of the stolen money.

Immediately following Onfroy’s murder, clips of him dying in his vehicle circulated online. People quickly called for them to be taken down. Additionally, the three defendants on trial face upwards of life in prison.

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