“It Doesn’t Matter” rapper Tory Lanez was released from house arrest with his bond still set at $350,000 in connection to his involvement in the alleged 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
Dec. 5, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Herriford ruled that he would terminate Lanez’s house arrest, explaining that it only made the trial difficult, according to Rolling Stone.
“I will terminate the house arrest at this point,” Herriford said at the first hearing to a group of potential jurors. “The main reason is that during trial, it’s difficult to have a client who’s not accessible. I’m doing this mainly for the trial preparation aspect.”
Prosecutors disagreed with the judge’s decision arguing that removing Lanez’s ankle monitor would allow the rapper to intimidate the multiple witnesses, which could impact the trial’s outcome.
The court sentenced Lanez to house arrest in October following his Chicago altercation with August Alsina in September. Alsina posted the injuries he obtained to his Instagram.
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“Me after a toupee’d sneak attack then being [manhandled] by buku security one deep, as the jealous leprechaun run’s back off into the building,” Alsina wrote in the caption. “@encinawellness is the key to healing this. I b back with my results once I heal up.”
In April, Megan alleged that Lanez attempted to bribe her with $1 million in exchange for her silence because he was on probation and didn’t want to get arrested. Lanez’s attorney, George G. Mgdesyan, denied Megan’s claims, stating his client was never on probation.
“If he’s required to have a monitor on his ankle in front of jurors, I think it’s just punitive,” Mgdesyan said. “It doesn’t serve any purpose. If he’s going to dissuade a witness, all probation is going to know is where he is. It doesn’t mean he can’t meet with that person.”
Megan’s lawyer, Kathy Ta, mentioned that her team had a couple of witnesses that Lanez could influence if he were released from house arrest. Despite their arguments, the judge stood by his decision for the sake of the trial.
As Sis2Sis reported, the shooting occurred at Kylie Jenner’s pool party she threw at her Hollywood Hills house. Megan stated that an argument ensued inside an SUV. After she got out, Lanez started yelling, “Dance, b***h,” shooting a couple of times and hitting her toe.
It hasn’t been confirmed, but Mgdesyan said that Jenner’s testimony and her mom’s boyfriend’s testimony, Corey Gamble, could clarify everything. The “Savage” rapper’s former best friend Kelsey Harris was subpoenaed to give her account of the incident.
Starting Dec. 12, the trial will occur for 10 days.
