Young Thug believes that the extensive police presence in his ongoing RICO trial is hindering his chances of receiving a fair trial due to the possibility of bias.
The “fortress-like atmosphere” of the courtroom has raised concerns from Thug and his legal team, who worry that it might affect how the jury views the rapper.
Additionally, his family and fans have been denied access to the courtroom since the beginning of the case and have instead been given a designated “viewing courtroom.”
According to AllHipHop.com, the courtroom had a “heavy” police presence, with officers equipped in tactical gear and armed with firearms and ammunition. In addition, Thug is escorted into the courtroom wearing a leg brace, a visual that his legal team says adds to the perception that he poses a threat.
Despite objections raised by the rapper’s legal team, the court has dismissed their concerns regarding the police presence, deferring the decision to the Sheriff’s discretion, the publication reports.
This ruling, combined with the courtroom’s exclusion of the rapper’s supporters, has been argued by his legal team as a factor that contributes to prejudice against the rap star.
His lawyers further claim unequal treatment of defense attorneys and prosecutors in the courtroom, highlighting how defense attorneys are searched in front of the jury while prosecutors often enter through a separate door without being searched.
To demonstrate an unfair trial environment, Thug’s legal team has filed a request for a hearing to present evidence, including photographs, of the police presence and the rapper’s leg brace.
They claim that presenting this evidence is essential for the Appellate Court to grasp the true extent of the police presence in case of a wrongful conviction.
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