Tory Lanez’s appeal of his conviction in the shooting death of Megan Thee Stallion has been delayed again, with a court granting the government’s latest request.
The government must respond to Lanez’s opening brief, in which he lays out the grounds for his appeal. Lanez’s legal team filed the brief in late February.
Prosecutors initially asked for more time in March to respond to Lanez’s side of the case, and the judge agreed, giving them until May 28, according to a court record obtained by HipHopDX.
Subsequently, the prosecutor made another extension request on Tuesday (May 21), and it was approved on Thursday (May 23). Prosecutors now have until June 27 to file their answer to Lanez’s case.
See the full summary below.
Tory Lanez’s appeal is frustrated again due to delays caused by prosecutors’ demands pic.twitter.com/fk6cVrCMNm
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) May 24, 2024
Back in February, the Canadian rapper/singer (real name Daystar Peterson) filed a 103-page opening brief in a case based on “erroneous admission of evidence” and “prosecutor misconduct.”
Law and crime reporter Megan Cunniff noted that “these arguments are largely consistent with those he made in his motion for a new trial, which Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Hereford dismissed in May. motion.
“The document, which is based on a habeas corpus petition filed in December, includes a statement from Lanez’s driver saying he saw Lanez trying to get away from Megan’s friend Kelsey before the shooting. Harris took a gun from his hands, but said the driver did not see who fired the gun.
“The most surprising thing about this brief is how quickly it was submitted,” Cuniff shared on Twitter/X on February 27. […] This quick turnaround could mean we’ll have a decision from District 2 before the end of the year.
In September, Lanez was officially sent to prison to serve his sentence, marking the end of the high-profile shooting. Last month, Judge David Hereford sentenced him to 10 years in prison, three years less than what prosecutors had sought.
He faces a maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in prison and subsequent deportation to Canada (which will remain in effect upon his release).
Shortly after the final 2023 ruling, District Attorney Kathy Ta read aloud a scathing written statement from Megan Thee Stallion in court.
In it, she blasted Tory for giving a false account of the shooting and downplaying her “trauma” in subsequent music releases. As a result, she said she has “not experienced a peaceful day” since the shooting.
“Not only did he shoot me, he laughed at my trauma,” Meghan wrote. “He tried to position himself as the victim and began to destroy my character and soul.
“He lied to anyone who would listen and paid bloggers to spread false information about the case on social media. He released music videos and songs to damage my character and continue his crusade.
