Tory Lanez is still fighting to overturn his 2022 convictions in the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, but his legal team faced another blow this week. According to Billboard, a California appeals court denied two petitions filed by Lanez’s attorneys, marking a setback in his ongoing battle for freedom.
The petitions argued that Lanez’s due process rights were violated and that key evidence—including the gun and bullet fragments recovered from Megan Thee Stallion’s foot—had not been made available to his defense team.
“Petitioner has failed to [show] that additional DNA testing would establish a claim of actual innocence,” the court wrote in its ruling. “Both parties’ experts at trial agreed that DNA testing of the magazine showed none of petitioner’s DNA was present, and as to the gun itself the inconclusive findings could neither exclude nor include petitioner as a minor contributor to the DNA found on the gun.”
DNA Evidence and Defense Claims
Lanez also claimed that prosecutors failed to collect a DNA sample from Kelsey Harris, the person his attorneys alleged actually pulled the trigger. The appeals court rejected this argument as well.
“Petitioner essentially concedes that such a claim is ineffectual,” the court wrote. “The prosecution does not have a duty to collect evidence helpful to the defense.”
This ruling underscores the uphill battle Lanez faces in challenging the evidence that helped secure his convictions.
Background: Shooting Case and Conviction
Lanez was found guilty in 2022 for shooting at Megan Thee Stallion, an incident that made headlines worldwide. He was sentenced in 2023 to 10 years in prison, with parole eligibility in 2029 and an expected release in 2033.
His direct appeal of the convictions is still pending, with a live hearing for oral arguments expected later this month.
Ongoing Legal Drama
The appeals court’s ruling does not mark the end of Lanez’s legal fight. His team continues to pursue avenues that could challenge aspects of his conviction, keeping the case in the public eye as fans and observers follow the high-profile drama.
Lanez’s attempts to challenge the DNA evidence and the prosecution’s handling of the case highlight the complex legal landscape surrounding celebrity criminal cases and the intense scrutiny that follows them.
Stay Tuned
For more updates on Tory Lanez, Megan Thee Stallion, and the latest in high-profile music-related legal battles, keep it locked with The Pop Radar.