He was initially set to be sentenced in January. However sentencing was delayed after he obtained new attorneys and filed a movement for a brand new trial, which was denied in Could. He confronted a most sentence of twenty-two years and eight months, in addition to deportation to his house nation of Canada.
Prosecutors beforehand requested a choose to condemn Lanez to 13 years in jail, after he was convicted of taking pictures hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion within the ft in 2020.
Megan referred to as for a stiff sentence for Lanez in a written assertion learn aloud throughout a listening to at Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom on Monday, the Related Press reported.
“Since I used to be viciously shot by the defendant, I’ve not skilled a single day of peace,” stated Megan, whose authorized title is Megan Pete.
Her assertion cited emotional struggling brought on by his “heinous” actions after the taking pictures, together with writing social media posts that led folks to assault her on-line.
Megan stated she thought of talking in individual however “merely couldn’t convey myself to be in a room with Tory once more.”
Lanez’s attorneys had requested the court docket to condemn him to probation as a substitute of a prolonged jail time period. In a 41-page memo filed final week, Lanez’s attorneys argued that he would additionally profit from a residential drug remedy program.
“Assuming the allegations are true, Mr. Peterson’s psychological, bodily and childhood trauma have been an element within the fee of the offense,” learn the memo, parts of which have been shared by Meghann Cuniff, a journalist who has been following the case.
Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, informed the choose on Monday that his youngest little one was 11 when his mom died, calling it a trauma that “I don’t assume anyone ever will get over.”
Choose David Herriford received 76 letters, together with a handwritten one from Lanez’s 6-year-old son, in line with Cuniff. The mom of his son, Raina Cassagne, referred to as Lanez “probably the most supportive” and “the funnest father.”
In a letter to the choose, rapper Iggy Azalea pleaded for a “transformative, not life-destroying” sentence for her fellow artist. Different witnesses, together with a police chief in Missouri and a state consultant, talked about Lanez’s charitable giving.
In her assertion, Megan stated Lanez “has blamed the system, blamed the press, and as of late has tried to benefit from his childhood trauma.”
Herriford stated Lanez had a transparent lack of regret, however the choose added that he wouldn’t permit that to be an element as a result of the defendant has a proper to take care of his innocence, the Related Press reported.
Representatives for Lanez and Megan didn’t reply to requests for remark Monday morning.
The taking pictures occurred within the early hours of July 12, 2020, after the 2 shared a journey to go away a celebration hosted on the Hollywood Hills house of actuality star Kylie Jenner. In response to testimony, Lanez fired a number of photographs at Megan after she exited the automobile following a struggle.
The incident drew widespread consideration and scrutiny.
Three days later, Megan disclosed on Instagram that she had suffered gunshot wounds “on account of against the law that was dedicated towards me and performed with the intention to bodily hurt me.” She was shot in each ft, requiring surgical procedure.
Megan didn’t title her assailant till August 2020 throughout an Instagram Stay video, after rumors began circulating that it was Lanez who shot her.
“Sure … Tory shot me. You shot me and you bought your publicist and your folks going to those blogs mendacity,” Megan stated. “I didn’t inform the police nothing as a result of I didn’t need us to get in no extra hassle.”
Throughout the trial, she testified that she and Lanez had, at instances, a sexual relationship and had grown nearer after they each misplaced their moms, the Los Angeles Occasions reported. The 2 started arguing at Jenner’s get together, the place Lanez accused Megan of mendacity about their relationship to her pal Kelsey Harris.
The taking pictures and trial birthed conspiracy theories, dividing social media and the hip-hop trade. A variety of distinguished rappers opined on the case. Some, together with Drake and 50 Cent, instructed that Megan, a well-liked artist and frequent musical collaborator, lied in regards to the taking pictures.
Others claimed the hip-hop star had injured herself stepping on damaged glass. (Lanez’s authorized group by no means denied that Megan was shot however alleged in the course of the trial that there wasn’t sufficient proof to show Lanez did it.)
Throughout the trial, Megan informed jurors, “I want he would have simply shot and killed me if I knew I used to be going to must undergo this torture.” Her remedy impressed discourse throughout media, hip-hop and feminist circles about the best way Black feminine survivors are handled by the authorized system, the media and the male-dominated world of rap music.
In April, Elle magazine revealed an essay by Megan through which the rapper stated, “I view myself as a survivor, as a result of I’ve really survived the unimaginable.”
“Not solely did I survive being shot by somebody I trusted and regarded a detailed pal,” she stated, “however I overcame the general public humiliation of getting my title and status dragged by the mud by that particular person for the whole world to see.”
Earlier this yr, Lanez insisted in an Instagram post that he was “wrongfully convicted” of the crime and “was fully robbed and disadvantaged of a good trial.”
Each Lanez and Megan have had notable careers, although in several eras.
The Canadian rapper has launched a slew of mixtapes since 2009 and had just a few minor hits, together with “LUV,” which peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016 and earned a Grammy nomination for finest R&B track. He was featured on a remix model of Jack Harlow’s “Whats Poppin,” which reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Scorching 100 chart.
Megan Thee Stallion gained three Grammys in 2021, together with finest new artist, in addition to finest rap efficiency and finest rap track for her hit track “Savage.” Each “Savage” and “WAP” (through which she options alongside Cardi B) hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
