On Monday, jurors convicted rapper-actor Kaalan Walker, 27, from ‘Superfly‘ of raping several teen girls and women, dating back to 2013, but acquitted him of charges against three other alleged victims.
Initially, Walker had been charged with more than a dozen counts involving ten alleged victims but was convicted of charges involving three teenage girls and four women.
Deputy District Attorney Yasmin Fardghassemi told the Van Nuys jury in her opening statement in March that the case involves two women who had never met before, and the “single thing that unites all of these women is the defendant Kaalan Walker.”
Among the ten teens and young women, she described incidents that were “strikingly similar” to those made by a teenager and two other women whose charges were not filed.
“You’re going to see a dark side of him,” the prosecutor said, adding that Walker used Instagram and Twitter to entice his alleged victims to locations he chose by scheduling them for fake photo or music video shoots or falsely promising to introduce them to someone famous.
“When they said ‘Stop,’ he didn’t care,” Fardghassemi said.
Andrew Flier, Walker’s attorney, countered that Walker is innocent of the charges, saying he has been “portrayed as a monster.”
“They’re going to lie to you because they know they fell for his B.S.,” the defense lawyer told jurors, saying the alleged victims were out for “revenge.”
“The pattern of Mr. Walker is to make false promises, and they bought it. … Each one of these women voluntarily made their own decisions,” Flier said. “He didn’t force them. … It’s payback to Mr. Walker, and we’re not going to let that happen.”
According to Flier, his client endured a “living nightmare” and had a great career that was ruined.
“I did not rape anybody, your honor!” Walker shouted as he was led away in handcuffs.
After being arrested in September 2018, Walker was released on bond but was re-arrested Monday when the verdict was read. He now faces a possible life sentence in prison. He is due back in court on May 27.
