Tory Lanez’s law firm is fighting for a new trial over the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. The lawyers reportedly allege that “racism” and new information regarding DNA evidence justify a second look at the case.
The news comes amid the rapper sharing audio to his Instagram asking for fair treatment. The audio arrives just days after he penned a message to the Los Angeles District Attorney maintaining his innocence.
RELATED: Tory Lanez Says He’s Been ‘Wrongfully Convicted’ While Asking For LA County District Attorney’s Help Before New Trial Request
Tory Lanez’s IG Account Shares Audio From Rapper Claiming DNA Test Was Misrepresented
On Tuesday, Lanez shared an Instagram video that contained voicemail audio of the rapper. In the audio, the rapper claimed his inconclusive DNA test was misrepresented.
“I’ve been incarcerated for about half a year, over a gun that the D.A. lied and said I shot. In 2021, they demanded I take a DNA test. I took that test with no pushback, delays, or questions. Not only because I knew I never shot the gun, but because I knew I was 100% positive that I never even touched this gun,” Lanez started the message.
He went on to say that at his trial, the guilty or innocent verdict depended heavily on his DNA results. Additionally, he accused the Los Angeles DNA crime lab and prosecutors of manipulating his DNA results.
“They lied to the world, the media, and most importantly my jury by stating the DNA on the gun was inconclusive,” he added. “That was an absolute lie.”
“It came back exactly what I knew it would the whole time. My DNA is 100% excluded from and 100% eliminated from being on this gun. In other words, I have never touched or shot this gun.”
“It’s my prayer and highest hope that the Honorable Judge Herriford return me to my freedom, my family, and most importantly the justice of a fair trial.”
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Tory Lanez’s Attorney Calls For New Trial Based On Misrepresented DNA Evidence & Possible ‘Racism’
On Tuesday, his lawyer, Jose Baez, similarly told Law & Crime that prosecutors misrepresented DNA evidence at trial. Additionally, Baez explained that the prosecutors wrongly used the rapper’s lyrics to win a conviction against him.
Baez said the court’s use of Lanez’s lyrics “racialized the proceedings.” Additionally, he appeared to credit Lanez’s violent songs to his “rap persona” and “creative expression.” Not an expression of any guilt
“I think it racializes the proceedings,” Baez said. “Utilizing rap persona, creative expression, and rap lyrics puts the accused in a very tough position… it’s infiltrated by extreme racism and should never see the inside of a court.”
Baez: Prosecutors Wrongly Used Rapper’s Lyrics Against Him At Trial
The attorney called it “appalling” that prosecutors in this case, and in general, are using lyrics in rap music as evidence against defendants.
Last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation — the Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act — into law, which restricts the use of rap lyrics in criminal proceedings, the outlet reports.
Baez also called out DNA evidence used at trial, which he claims was misrepresented by prosecutors by claiming Lanez’s DNA couldn’t be ruled out as contributing to evidence found on the gun.
The attorney said his client “should have been excluded as a contributor in this case.”
“Prosecutors basically used and argued multiple times in this trial that he could not say his DNA was not on the gun. In fact, that’s not true. His DNA was not on the gun. They didn’t have a profile.”
Baez continued: “He wasn’t even considered a minor contributor, and any random African-American person from the community could have, could be a more likely contributor than Tory Lanez.”
Tory Lanez Previously Shared Another Message to L.A. District Attorney
On Friday (April 21), Lanez shared another Instagram video that contained voicemail audio of the rapper addressing Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, The Shade Room previously reported.
Within his message, Lanez accused prosecutors of “misus[ing] their authority.” Additionally, he announced that he “was completely robbed and deprived of a fair trial.”
Lanez also said he owed his efforts to “the hundreds of thousands of Black and Hispanic minorities that cannot adequately fight for themselves.”
After alleging that the prosecution “manipulated a false narrative,” he asked the D.A. to “do what is fair” as he prepares to fight for a new trial.
Tory Lanez’s pleas to George Gascón arrives about three weeks after his attorneys filed a motion for a new trial. The motion hearing has been scheduled for May 8.
