Tory Lanez's Lawyer Shares Alleged Evidence Of Mistaken Eyewitness ID In Assault Case
By Fiyin Olowokandi on May 7, 2023 at 1:30 PM EDT
Tory Lanez's efforts for a new trial continue as his attorney updates fans about misleading eyewitness testimonies used in the case.
The battle between the "Say It" rapper and Megan Thee Stallion began in 2020 after the female artist was shot in the foot. Since naming the Canadian entertainer as her assailant, the pair have been the center of heated debates about the incident.
However, a jury slapped the 30-year-old with a guilty verdict in 2022. Following his conviction, the father-of-one has actively fought for a retrial based on inadequate proceedings. Keep reading to learn more about the latest update in the case.
Tory Lanez's Defense Attorney Claims The Rapper Was Convicted Over Poor Eyewitness Testimonies
Jose Baez, the criminal defense lawyer in charge of the entertainer's case, recently took to his Instagram Story to share shocking truths about his client's trial.
Over a picture of himself in a suit, the legal practitioner's message suggested that the jury found Lanez guilty after listening to "mistaken" testimonies from eyewitnesses. The attorney said this was a common problem in the justice system.
"Mistaken eyewitness identifications contributed to approximately 69% of the more than 375 wrongful convictions in the United States overturned by post-conviction DNA evidence," Baez explained in his post.
The "Who Needs Love" singer's avid social media supporter added the hashtags, "@torylanez #freetory #freetorylanez #freetory!!!!." Following his announcement, the New Yorker dropped samples of what he implied were mistaken eyewitness identifications in the shooting case.
The screenshot of the courtroom dialogue followed the conversation between the defendant's representative and a witness. According to the anonymous bystander, they had seen two girls fighting at the crime scene.
When the inquirer asked if the person witnessed one of the women shoot the other party, the individual responded: "I believe so, but…." The lawyer chimed in, requesting confirmation that the bystander had seen Lanez trying to take the gun away from the shooter.
Although prosecutors objected to the lawyer's statement as "leading," the court overruled the interruption and allowed the defense counsel to continue. "Is that what you said?" the attorney asked, "Yeah!!!" the witness responded.
In version two of the eyewitness story, the question thrown to the bystander on the stand read: "Sir, did you state that after the shooting, the shorter guy was trying to take the gun from the person who did the shooting?"
"I never saw that. I mean, this wasn't something that took a long time. It was all instant," the witness replied. Undeterred by the individual's statement, the inquirer asked the bystander to clarify what he saw the rapper do after the alleged female fired the gun.
"I just saw he was furious. He was shouting. And he — then — he then — the flashes then came from him. I never saw a gun. I want to be clear," the witness stated.
In his final post, Baez suggested that these eyewitnesses' statements proved his client needed a retrial. The "Presumed Guilty" author wrote, "This is why a jury must hear the DNA that excluded Tory Lanez. It's a farse that someone fires a gun five times; it's immediately recovered and does not leave DNA."
The One Umbrella Founder's Lawyer Claimed His Client Would Share Crucial Information About His Case
Weeks earlier, The Blast reported that the "Enchanted Waterfall" rapper's attorney had opened up about new details in the shooting case. The criminal defense lawyer shared a post about National DNA Day on his Instagram Story.
"Today is National DNA Day. We are happy to announce that Tory Lanez will release information about the DNA in his case that gave false and misleading information to his jury," the New Yorker wrote in his April 25 post.
Although Baez did not share additional information about the new evidence or its release date, his statement implied that the DNA might have influenced Lanez's guilty verdict. The legal practitioner's client previously highlighted similar claims.
In a fiery letter penned to LA County District Attorney George Gascon, the 30-year-old accused prosecutors of several wrongdoings. These accusations included suppressing "exculpatory evidence" that proved the rapper's innocence.
The Canadian claimed he was "robbed and deprived of a fair trial" and implored the District Attorney to ensure he got justice. The "Talk to Me" artist noted that he was fighting for himself, his son, fans, and loved ones alongside Black and Hispanic minorities.
