Tori Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan T Stallion

From euronews Agencies: up

Published on 08.09.2023 – 11:31

A judge has sentenced rapper Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison for shooting and injuring hip-hop superstar Megan T Stallion in the leg, ending a three-year legal and cultural saga that has upended both artists’ careers.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford sentenced Lanes, 31, convicted in December of three felony charges: assault with a semi-automatic firearm, possession of a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and grossly negligent discharge of a firearm. .

From the initial incident in the Hollywood Hills in July 2020 to a two-day sentencing marathon, this case has created quite a stir in the hip-hop community.

raising issues such as the reluctance of black victims to speak to police, gender issues in hip hop, online toxicity, advocacy of black women, and the consequences of misogyny, a specific type of misogyny that black women face.

Herriford said it was “hard to reconcile” the image Lanes’ friends and family presented at the hearing as a kind, merciful, good father to a 6-year-old son with the man who shot Meghan.

“Sometimes good people do bad things,” Herriford said. “Actions have consequences, and in this case there are no winners.”

Megan, 28, testified during the trial that Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, shot her in the back of the head and yelled at her to dance as she walked away from the SUV they were driving after leaving a pool party in Kylie. Jenner’s house. He had to undergo surgery to remove bullet fragments. It wasn’t until a few months later that he revealed who had fired.

“Since I was severely beaten by the defendant, I have not experienced a day of peace”,” Meghan said in a statement read by a prosecutor in court on Monday. “I’m slowly recovering, but I’ll never be the same again.”

Lanez asked Herriford for a pardon shortly before the judge handed down the verdict, demanding probation or a minimum prison sentence.

“If I could go back and change the course of events that night, I would,” continued Lanez. “The victim was a friend of mine that I still care about,” Lanez said before adding: “For everything I did wrong that night, I take full responsibility.”

Lanez seemed disoriented as the verdict was read out, but there was no visible reaction. Even his family members and fans present in the courtroom remained silent after the verdict.

“We are extremely disappointed,” said Jose Baez, Lanez’s lawyer, in front of the courtroom. “I’ve seen vehicular homicide cases and other cases where there was one death and the defendant still got less than 10 years.” Baez called the decision “another example of someone being punished for their celebrity status and being used as an example. But he is not an example. He is a human”.

Lawyers for Lanes plan to appeal and demand their client’s release on bail.

Prosecutors have repeatedly praised Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Peet, for her courage to testify in the case and endure online hate campaigns directed against her.

“I hope Ms. Pete’s courage brings hope to those who feel helpless,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said of Megan at a post-sentence press conference.