Tory Lanez Sentencing Date Delayed
Tory Lanez’s sentencing in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting has been delayed. The rapper switched his legal team and is seeking an appeal for a new trial. The sentencing was originally scheduled for Jan. 27 and has now been pushed to Feb. 28. The date has been moved to give Lanez’s new counsel more time to file motions on their client’s behalf.
Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, appeared in court Tuesday (Jan. 10) for the first time since his 2022 conviction. During the hearing, Judge David Herriford approved the rapper’s request to replace his previous attorneys, George Mgdesyan and Shawn Holley, with David Kenner and Matthew Barhoma.
Kenner has served hip-hop stars before, including Suge Knight. Kenner argued on Lanez’s behalf that the protective order prohibiting Tory from mentioning Megan or the shooting publicly be lifted.
“Your honor, most respectfully, there have been a number of other people connected with the case posting on social media and putting out statements. I would suggest to the court that the way the (protective order) was written, it’s a prior restraint on free speech,” Kenner argued per Vibe. “I think it’s inappropriate for Mr. Peterson to be put in a position where he’s stopped from using his voice.” Kenner’s request would be denied, with the caveat that he could make his argument again at Lanez’s next hearing.
As for Lanez’s team confidence on getting a second trial, Kenner believes they have enough to have it be granted. “We look forward to litigating the motion for new trial,” he told reporters following the hearing. “We are very confident.”
On Dec. 23, 2022, Lanez was found guilty of three felonies in the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, per the Associated Press. He was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. The counts could lead to up to 22 years in prison and he faces deportation to Canada.