Tory Lanez was handcuffed in court and remanded to custody until he posts new bail of $350,000 in Megan Thee Stallion felony assault case. Judge found him in violation of discovery protective order and personal contact order.
Megan Thee Stallion just won a round in her contract war w/ 1501 Certified Entertainment
The label wanted judge to rule “Something for Thee Hotties” doesn’t qualify as album under her contract, so 1 more still owed
Judge just DENIED the motion, so dispute proceeds to trial
Good morning from day 2 of Tory Lanez’s felony assault trial in L.A., where he’s fighting charges he shot Megan Thee Stallion in both feet in July 2020
About 2 dozen Megan supporters gathered outside courthouse to show “solidarity” ahead of her testimony today 🧵
Third Accuser Sues Sean “Diddy” Combs for Sexual Assault
Jane Doe plaintiff alleges Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Hall took turns raping her and a friend after an event at Uptown Records in the early 1990s
Lauren London includes in memorial program a heartbreaking text she wrote to
#NipseyHussle
on Jan. 21. “I’m in bed with you while you’re sleeping and I wanted to tell u something. I want you to know I feel real joy in my heart when I’m around you.”
There was ZERO mention of DNA at the Tory Lanez hearing today. The report that Tory's lawyer told court DNA results were "pleasing" to his side is "totally fabricated," 2 sources tell Rolling Stone. I'm about to receive the transcript, will update. Pre-trial continued to April 5.
Judge David Herriford heard nearly an hour of argument about Lanez's tweets and said some "seem to be clear messages" to Megan. He added new condition to Lanez's release that he's "not to mention the complaining witness in this case in any social media." Trial date set for 9/14.
Prosecutor Alexander Bott showed visual of a series of text messages that Kelsey Harris sent Megan's bodyguard at 4:27 a.m., roughly five minutes after the shooting:
"Help"
"Tory shot Meg"
911"
Good morning from day 5 of Tory Lanez trial alleging he shot Megan Thee Stallion
Judge ruled yesterday he'll allow full audio of Kelsey Harris’s 80-min Sept. interview w/prosecutors. This is big because he previously excluded it after prosecutors played only small portion Wed 🧵
Source tells
@RollingStone
that Megan Thee Stallion’s bodyguard Justin Edison, who was due to testify at Tory Lanez's trial but now allegedly is MIA, gave a prior witness statement claiming Lanez apologized to him for the shooting
Story to come
VERDICT: Vanessa Bryant awarded $16 million in damages by jurors. She broke down sobbing when clerk read the unanimous decision.
Chris Chester awarded $15 million.
Cardi B wins at defamation trial against blogger Latasha Kebe (Tasha K) in federal court in Georgia.
Jury awards her $1.25 million in damages.
That's $1 million for pain and suffering and $250k for medical expenses.
Good morning from the criminal courts building in downtown L.A., where opening statements are due to begin soon in Tory Lanez’s felony assault trial.
Lanez is accused of shooting at Megan Thee Stallion, wounding her in both feet, after shouting “Dance, bitch” in July 2020. 🧵
Judge also said he would allow prosecutors to bring in text Kelsey sent Megan the night of shooting that read:
“Should I get a scan at urgent care? My chest is hurting... My left side, back & neck hurt, but that’s from the fighting & him dragging me out of the car by my hair.”
BOOM: Judge Herriford just said prosecutors can play 80-minute recording of Kelsey Harris' Sept. interview with prosecutors
He allowed it after prosecutors said Lanez's defense opened the door by "impugning" their "integrity" on cross of Harris
Jurors set to hear it tomorrow
Prosecutor Kathy Ta had the last word Thursday and showed the jury now deliberating Tory Lanez’s fate a chart that looked roughly like the one below
“I am a visual learner,” Ta said. “This is how straightforward the evidence in the case is...We really only have three suspects”
“We’re here today to make sure Megan feels seen, supported and loved,” Luis Hernandez, spokesperson for The Gathering for Justice, said outside the courthouse
Michelle Monterrosa said the group was “standing in solidarity with Megan & victims of violence to show we believe them”
My 8yo daughter joined me at ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” premiere tonight. Angelina Jolie spotted her, spoke directly to her ... and I’m going to need some time to recover.
Dr. Lee Haruno, chief resident of orthopedic surgery at Cedars Sinai, walked jurors through Xrays showing the wounds to Megan’s feet. He said they identified four metallic bullet fragments embedded in her feet, and they removed what they could during emergency surgery that night
“The DA requested no bail, or in the alternative, $5 million bail, and the court rejected those arguments and increased bail to $350,000. And that bail is being posted now,” Lanez's lawyer Shawn Holley tells Rolling Stone.
Megan's testimony after lunch break was significantly more emotional. She got very animated & broke down several times talking about toll of the shooting.
“Because I was shot, I’ve been turned into some kind of villain, and he’s the victim. This has messed up my whole life.”
UPDATE - I have transcript from court reporter. This is what Tory Lanez's atty said:
"We are in the process of actually retaining an expert with respect to DNA. It is our hope that we will be able to review & confirm the LAPD’s analysis, which from our standpoint was favorable"
Megan Thee Stallion called as witness at 11:15 am. Her voice cracked on 1st question, when asked if she knew Daystar Peterson. She quickly regained composure
Asked if she was "nervous," she replied: "I just don't feel good. I can't believe I have to come up here and do this"
Update on Anne Heche from family spokesperson at 11 a.m. local time:
"She was declared brain dead last night but has been kept on life support for organ donation. Her heart is still beating."
This story is beyond tragic in so many ways.
Absolute pandemonium erupted in courtroom shortly before Torey Lanez was led away in handcuffs
"This wicked system," Tory's dad Sonstar Peterson yelled as he jumped up from the 1st row
"You two, you are wicked, you are evil," he shouted at the prosecutors before he was led out
Defense tried to exclude it, calling it "late discovery," but prosecutors said it was "critical " considering Kelsey has disavowed her Sept. statement that Tory assaulted her & pulled her hair
“The most important thing is that the trial is a search for the truth," DDA Bott said
UPDATE to Cardi B defamation trial win over blogger Tasha K:
Georgia federal court jury just awarded her every penny of requested expenses/attorneys fees: $1,338,753.47.
And another $1.5 million in punitive damage ($1 million against Tasha K and $500k against her company)
Tory’s 6-year-old son started crying in the front row after his grandfather was ushered out. Tory was looking at the child and patted his chest to reassure him
Kelsey: "He’s shooting over the top of the door. He was leaning over the front passenger door and he was shooting the gun...(Megan) was walking away when this happened, but by the 3rd or 4th shot, she was facing towards us, and I would describe it as like a deer in headlights."
Cardi B wins again, gets attorneys fees
“Brophy’s tattoo played a minor role in what was a larger visual commentary on sexual politics,” federal judge writes in new ruling
Cardi B takes plea deal from Queens prosecutors, pleads guilty to 2 misdemeanors – 3rd degree assault and 2nd degree reckless endangerment – in 2018 strip club brawl
She was sentenced to 15 days community service
Other charges in 12-count indictment dropped
Good morning from day 4 of Tory Lanez trial
Megan Thee Stallion's former friend Kelsey Harris is due back on the stand after head-spinning testimony Wed. where she confirmed she gave a blockbuster statement to DA in Sept. but then waffled on key details or recanted them 🧵
At Britney Spears conservatorship hearing (yes, it's terminated, but the battle is not over):
Judge Brenda Penny just ruled Jamie Spears MUST sit for a deposition by Aug. 12.
Judge then issued tentative that Britney WILL NOT have to sit for depo, but Jamie's lawyer objecting.
Lanez denies being shooter
Megan will testify & is adamant she saw Lanez fire
Lanez’s atty plans to present theory Megan’s former best friend Kelsey Harris could have discharged gun
(Both Lanez & Harris tested+ for GSR… it travels in small spaces)
Harris also due to testify
Good morning from day 3 of the Tory Lanez felony assault trial in Los Angeles.
Megan Thee Stallion’s former friend Kelsey Harris (Kelsey Nicole) is expected to testify and corroborate Megan’s testimony that Tory shot the “Savage” rapper in both feet in July 2020 🧵
Tory Lanez’s lawyer George Mgdesyan just released a statement:
“We are shocked by the verdict. There was not sufficient evidence to convict Mr. Peterson. We believe this case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. We will be exploring all options including an appeal.”
Tiffany Haddish, who won an Emmy for guest-hosting
#SNL
, talks backstage about her dress, an homage to her dad and their Eritrean heritage. It’s custom design in colors of Eritrean flag.
#EMMYS
“This whole story was about who I’m having sex with, and I don’t understand why that matters," she told jurors after lunch
She was embarrassed & thought it was beside the point, she said
“It’s disgusting at this point. How can I share my body with somebody who could shoot me?”
“I’m having a really difficult time sitting up here comfortably telling my story,” Megan testified
“I’ve got to sit across from Tory." ... “I’m really trying to come off as a strong woman. I don’t want to give them the power they’ve been taking from me going on three years”
Smith is a music manager in Houston affiliated with Carl Crawford and 1501, the label battling Megan in court over a contract she's called “unconscionable”
Prior story on that war:
Kelsey: "The way Tory was angling the gun, it wasn’t like straight, it was like, down, definitely in her direction"
She didn't hear him say anything, she told prosecutors during the Sept. 14, 2022 interview that she largely disavowed during her live testimony this week
Good morning from day 6 of Tory Lanez trial on charges he shot Megan Thee Stallion
Here’s photo I took on 9/14/22 showing Kelsey Harris leaving court after she was ordered back under subpoena for trial
We now know she gave prosecutors her recorded statement later that morning
The precise nature of the LAPD analysis & its results were not disclosed or described. There is a discovery protective order on this case, so it's not public.
Lanez just walked into the courtroom holding hands with a young boy who appeared to be his son (I couldn’t get a good look, media lined up to the side)
Lanez also was accompanied by his father
Not clear how long the child will stay. Judges typically restrict kids under 10
Backstage, Brandi Carlile describes powerful moment during her Grammy performance: "I looked in the audience & I saw one person standing up, looking at me with total peace on her face. It was Janelle Monae & it really touched me, & I lost all my nervousness. I just sang to her."
EXCLUSIVE video of NBA YoungBoy reacting to NOT GUILTY verdict after stepping outside federal courthouse.
“He was not guilty. He was innocent,” lawyer James Manasseh says.
“Never was guilty,” YoungBoy tells
@RollingStone
.
Jurors just heard most of Kelsey's statement. It's intense, and incredibly detailed
Kelsey carefully describes the shooting blow-by-blow, alleging it happened immediately after Tory ordered his driver to stop the SUV because he wanted Megan and Kelsey ejected from the vehicle
EXCLUSIVE video of NBA YoungBoy reacting to NOT GUILTY verdict after stepping outside federal courthouse.
“He was not guilty. He was innocent,” lawyer James Manasseh says.
“Never was guilty,” YoungBoy tells
@RollingStone
.
Cardi statement: "Part of growing up and maturing is being accountable for your actions. As a mother, it's a practice that I am trying to instill in my children, but the example starts with me. I've made some bad decisions in my past that I am not afraid to face and own up to...
We only heard recording of Kelsey claiming Tory threatened to shoot her inside SUV. We never heard her Sept. account of allegedly seeing Tory w/gun
Prosecutors claim she was very detailed & said things like she "wanted to speak the truth to free (herself)" & "had nothing to hide
Statement from Anne Heche's son Homer:
"My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom. After 6 days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom."
Jail Call: "He's the only one apologizing, not Kelsey," Ta argued
"Let's say she's the shooter, at no point does (Tory) say, 'What the hell happened?'...'What were you doing?'" Ta said
Ta said the absence of what's not on the call is "just as compelling as what's on it."
Lanez's lawyer George Mgdesyan said the case is about "jealousy," suggesting the fight started because Megan was jealous of Kylie Jenner
He pushed theory Harris may have been the shooter & said no one beyond Megan heard "Dance, bitch"
He also said Corey Gamble will testify
"The defendant had a bruised ego," Ta argued. "(Megan) is insulting him as a rapper and that pissed him off. He had a massive ego and he could not handle being disrespected and how dare she have the audacity to walk away from him, so he reasserted his dominance."
#ToryLanezTrial
Kelsey: "I get out of my side & no sooner do you know, you start hearing gunshots going off. I looked up maybe about the second or third gunshot. You see Tory, he’s now in the front seat. I guess he must have jumped over in a smooth transition, & he’s leaning over the door"
Prosecutors sought to add 2 new charges this afternoon for felony witness tampering
DDA Kathy Ta said they related to Tory Lanez allegedly offering Megan Thee Stallion & Kelsey Harris $1 million bribe to keep quiet
Judge denied motion: “I think it’s unfair @ this juncture"
Jurors awarded Vanessa Bryant:
$2.5 Million for past suffering re: LACSD
$7.5 Million for future suffering re: LACSD
$1 Million for past suffering re: LA County Fire
$5 Million for future suffering re: LA County Fire
When she got on the stand, she disavowed her Sept. statements re: threat, seeing Tory w/gun, being assaulted by Tory or Tory offering her money/favors/lawyer
Her husband, Darien Smith, was w/her in court, sitting next to her lawyer
Prosecutors said Smith was at Sept. intvu too
Ta: “When you talked to us in Sept., you were being truthful, weren’t you?”
Harris: “Some things, yes”
Ta: “Did you fire the weapon at Megan?”
Harris: “No”
Cardi statement cont: "...These moments don't define me and they are not reflective of who I am now. I'm looking forward to moving past this situation with my family and friends and getting back to the things I love the most--the music and my fans."
Britney Spears court update: Judge Penny says, “All these matters are going to end up getting tried” (fee petitions, disputed accounting, claims of misconduct)
She put everything over to May 10: “Hopefully by that time all discovery will be complete & I can send to trial”
Britney Spears Update: Judge issued tentative order today denying Britney’s request for 2nd deposition of her dad Jamie, but after her lawyer Mathew Rosengart said he’d be willing to go to Louisiana to do it w/very limited scope in 2 hrs or less, she took matter under submission
Megan Thee Stallion’s boyfriend Pardison Fontaine posted a message of support on his his Instagram stories Thursday:
“To any woman especially ones of color that has suffered an injustice, I feel for you..when you do find the courage to speak up..it seems you will be ridiculed"
First witness in
#ToryLanez
prelim was LAPD Officer Sandra Cabral. She responded to "shots fired" investigation. Says Megan was in "a panic, frantic."
Says firearm found under Lanez's passenger seat "was warm to the touch," suggesting "the firearm had been used."
“She was lovely,” friend Paula Guthat said, adding Marquez lacked health insurance and worried she was being evicted. "I can’t help but think if she had just gotten the care she needed, her conditions wouldn’t have spiraled ...& she would still be alive”
"The entire defense theory is that the reason Megan lied is because it was more convenient from a PR perspective...Make that make sense," Ta argued. "It would have been easier for her to say, 'My crazy assistant did this to me.' It is much harder for her to come out against Tory"
Tory Lanez leaving today after jurors heard recording of Kelsey Harris’s Sept. interview w/prosecutors
Defense called their DNA expert out of order. He agreed with LAPD that DNA on gun inconclusive as to Tory but said would have expected conclusive for someone who fired 5x
NBA YoungBoy’s L.A. trial continued Wed w/fingerprint expert saying she captured “no suitable latents” on magazine or 12 rounds retrieved from his Maybach.
YoungBoy has pleaded not guilty to felon in possession of a gun. Says he didn't know FN was in car during 3/22/21 arrest.
Ta said of Kelsey: "She was crying & hyperventilating (in arrest vid) so the idea that 4 minutes after the shooting, she texts Justin...not police...Justin: ‘Tory shot Meg’ to cover herself...she’s playing 4-D chess
She wasn't protecting herself. She was keeping things in-house
In 2nd half of closing, Mgdesyan said Lanez wasn't apologizing for shooting in jail call
He apologized to Harris for "cheating on her" ... "having a sexual relationship with both of them," atty said
Lawyer said DNA, fingerprints not run for Harris on gun, so "we'll never know"
He called Kelsey Harris text to Megan Thee Stallion's bodyguard saying "Help/Tory shot me/911" critical
It was sent 5 mins after shooting
"Is Kelsey Harris some sort of sophisticated criminal mastermind? ...framing the defendant within 5 min? Is that a reasonable conculsion?"
Ta: "In Sept, when you spoke w/us, you gave us a lot of detailed statements about what happened, right?"
Harris: "Yes"
Ta: "What happened between Sept & today that you forgot everything?"
Harris: "I told you what I’m going through"
(she cited anxiety/postpartum/death in family)
Holley confirmed the swab on the gun came back "inconclusive" with 4 contributors while the magazine swab "excluded" Lanez.
"If he had seen this document, he presumably would have got it right," Holley said in court.
Kelsey: "Kelsey in her Sept. interview says the defendant shot (Megan)," Ta argued
"Help" text: Ta said Kelsey texted Megan's bodyguard 5 min after the shooting "Tory shot Meg"
Tory's "Apology" text: He says "'I'm sorry, I would never have done that if I wasn’t drunk'"
BREAKING: Iconic actress/director Penny Marshall died last night in Los Angeles at age 75, sources told the Daily News. "Our family is heartbroken," the family said in a statement. "She was a comedic natural with a photographic memory and an instinct for slapstick." RIP
Good morning from day 9 of Tory Lanez felony assault trial in Los Angeles
We’re learning more about Jauquan “Quan” Smith’s presence at the L.A. criminal courthouse yesterday. He was Tory’s driver night of Megan Thee Stallion shooting 🧵
BREAKING: Rapper Pooh Shiesty pleads guilty to 1 firearms conspiracy charge in non-binding deal that recommends 97 months (8 years) prison.
3 other charges, including one with possible LIFE sentence, dropped.
via
@RollingStone
DDA Kathy Ta was flabbergasted by Harris’s flip-flop, especially after granting her “use immunity,” meaning anything she said on stand couldn’t be used against her
Ta: “What happened between September & today?"
Ta asked if anyone w/ defense had contacted her
Harris said no
We got exclusive video of NBA YoungBoy reacting to verdict moment he stepped outside secure back exit and an interview with a juror that explains what went down during deliberations. Posting soon.
Kudos to Nique Laclaire &
@alexalonso101
for breaking audio exhibits from
#ToryLanezTrial
. We’re heading to get our own copies too
Here's Kelsey Harris's 9/22 interview w/ prosecutors in which she ID'd Tory as the shooter:
To recap: Harris confirmed she told prosecutors in Sept. that Tory threatened to shoot her inside the SUV, but on the stand, she said it was “a blur” & her statement about the threat was “not true”
She also recanted her recorded statement that she saw Tory point the gun @ Megan
Good morning from L.A. courthouse where jurors are deliberating Tory Lanez’s fate in Megan Thee Stallion assault case
Jurors asked for better definitions of “willfully” & “on purpose" late Thurs after hearing readback of Sean Kelly's testimony
Lanez in light pink again today
There's a verdict in the NBA YoungBoy gun trial in Los Angeles. Could take a while to get everyone assembled and read it.
Judge not allowing any electronics whatsoever for spectators in courtroom.
Tory Lanez leaving court with his 6-year-old son after Megan Thee Stallion finished testifying at his felony assault trial in Los Angeles
The child was present in the courtroom for some of the harrowing testimony
Before lunch break, Kelsey Harris testified that Tory Lanez threatened to shoot her in SUV:
Prosecutor: “Do you remember in (Sept.) interview...you mentioned he threatened to shoot you?”
Harris: “Do I have to answer that?”
Judge: "Yes"
Harris: “Um, yes, ma’am”
Morning session included some rulings from Judge Herriford, testimony from the doctor who removed four bullet fragments from Megan Thee Stallion's feet and the beginning of cross-examination of Kelsey Harris
Tory Lanez released from house arrest as his trial for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion begins with jury selection in L.A.
“I’m doing this mainly for the trial preparation aspect,” Judge David Herriford said, overruling a prosecution objection
Openings expected 12/12
After Kelsey Harris confirmed that she told prosecutors in Sept. that Tory threatened to shoot her:
“And this was in the car, correct?” Ta asked
“Yes,” she said.
Now in pm session, Harris is saying she can't remember. "Some of those things I stated, they weren't accurate."
Prosecutor Kathy Ta: “Were there accusations about you having shot Megan?” (Megan Thee Stallion)
Kelsey Harris: “There were.”
Prosecutor: “And how do you feel about them?”
Harris: “I mean, it’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous.”