Tory Lanez is seeking resentencing, citing new evidence in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case, according to court reporter Meghann Cuniff.
The “Say It” singer received ten years for shooting his former friend.
In September, Lanez was denied bond as he awaited the appeal process. Now, he is asking a judge to vacate the lengthy sentence following the recent statement of his bodyguard, Jaquan Smith. The guard, who did not testify during the trial, said he saw Kelsey Harris holding the gun on the night that Megan was shot, though the Grammy award winner disputes this. Additionally, another witness, Hollywood Hills homeowner Sean Kelly, testified during the trial that they saw two women fighting near a vehicle before shots rang out.
The 45-page habeas petition filed on behalf of Tory Lanez doesn’t clarify why Smith’s potential testimony wasn’t brought up during Lanez’s motion for a new trial, though Smith’s letter claims he was “prevented from [presenting this evidence during the trial] as the District Attorney was not ready to cross-examine” him.
Instead, Lanez’s post-trial lawyers, Matthew Barhoma and Jose Baez, turned their attention to criticizing the performance of Lanez’s trial counsel but did not question why Smith didn’t testify. Lanez also did not testify during the trial. Instead, they raised issues regarding the judge’s decision to allow questioning about Lanez’s lyrics related to the shooting, as court reporter Meghann Cuniff explains.
Also, in his bid for resentencing, Lanez included “childhood trauma” and claims of discrimination based on his non-American citizenship as other reasons why his sentencing should be re-evaluated. However, legal experts believe this may not hold up.
