Closing arguments began Wednesday in Tory Lanez’s criminal trial in Los Angeles, California.
Lanez is on trial for shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion (real name Megan Pete) following a party at Kylie Jenner’s Calabasas house in July 2020.
On Wednesday, the rapper told the judge he will not testify on his own behalf. The judge asked Lanez (real name Daystar Peterson) if he knows he has the right to testify. “Yes, your honor,” he answered.
The judge then asked him if he’s considered his decision, and Tory answered, “I have, your honor.”
It's official: Tory Lanez will not be testifying. He confirmed to Judge Herriford that he knows it's his decision, and his decision is to not testify. Herriford then read aloud jury instructions, and closings will allegedly begin at 1:30 p.m.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
Court reporter Meghan Cuniff had an interesting encounter with Lanez’s father outside the courthouse on Wednesday. He wanted to clarify that the woman with him is, “my wife, not my girlfriend.”
I said hi to Tory’s father as he arrived this morning following our photo shoot yesterday, and he has an important clarification for the masses: “She’s my wife, not my girlfriend.” pic.twitter.com/gRznC3eKFF
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
The prosecution just completed their closing arguments. Then it will be the defense’s turn.
The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday.
Lanez faces 22 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
There are videos of Meg on the ground after the police stop, her stumbling with her hands up at their direction, and of her in an ambulance. There are photos of Meg's injured feet, and there are the apologetic texts Tory sent her later that day.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
There are the texts Kelsey sent Meg's security Justin Edison shortly after the shooting that said, "Help" "Tory shot meg" "911." (Obviously Edison never testified.)
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
X-rays of Megan Thee Stallion's injured feet with bullet fragments visible also are in evidence, as is the hospital report about her surgery. A few more items, too, but that's the gist of prosecutors' evidence against Tory Lanez.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
Deputy DA Bott told the jury that, "after more than two years of this torture" for Megan Thee Stallion, it's finally time to hold Tory Lanez "accountable for his crimes."
"I want everybody to really think back to last Tuesday. That's when Meg testified," Bott said.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
Bott said Megan had her guard up when she began testifying in the morning, but after the lunch break, "those walls came down."
"I think everybody in this courtroom felt something that day," Bott said.— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
Bott displayed more testimony quotes from Meg and said, "If you believe Megan and what she said last Tuesday, this case is over. We're done. If you believe Megan, that's enough."
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 21, 2022
Megan Thee Stallion has credibly accused Tory Lanez of shooting her in the foot. She turned down hush money and has been stabbed in the back by her friends. Instead of getting showered with support, Megan was mocked. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in her position. pic.twitter.com/RiBYKXRWH4
— Candace Owens Podcast (@candaceowenspod) December 21, 2022
