Tory Lanez is hiring new lawyers to help convince the Los Angeles court that he should have a new trial following the news that the jury found him guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez has seen David Kenner and Matthew Barhoma replace his previous team of George Mgdesyan and Shawn Holley.
Kenner is well known in hip-hop, as he successfully defended Snoop Dogg in a murder trial in 1996, which resulted in an acquittal. In recent years, Kenner defended Suge Knight in a trial surrounding allegations that the Death Row Records found killed his friend, Terry Carter, ending in a hung jury.
On Tuesday, Kenner asked Judge Herriford to remove the protective order that stops Lanez from discussing Megan or the case in public comments. He said, “Your honor, most respectfully, there have been a number of other people connected with the case posting on social media and putting out statements.”
He continued, “I would suggest to the court that the way the (protective order) was written, it’s a prior restraint on free speech. I think it’s inappropriate for Mr. Peterson [Lanez] to be put in a position where he’s stopped from using his voice.”
The judge responded by saying that he did not feel “inclined” to drop the order but added that Kenner could make the request again on February 28th. Kenner appeared confident that the arrangements for a new trial could be organised. “We look forward to litigating the motion for a new trial. We are very confident,” he said.
George Mgdesyan, Lanez’s former lawyer, dismissed rumours that Lanez had fired him after the initial guilty verdict, claiming that he had willingly stepped aside so that Kenner could handle the case. He said, “I’m still friends with Tory, friends with the family.” It remains to be seen whether or not Lanez will indeed get a new trial.
