Many rappers have been locked up but few of them have ever had their convictions overturned, especially when it comes to homicide. McKinley “Mac” Phipps (also referred to as Mac the Camouflage Assassin) may be a rare exception as new evidence suggests the prosecution was too quick in accusing the once promising emcee.
Recently, five prosecution witnesses told The Huffington Post that law enforcement and prosecutors “bullied” them into making a hasty selection for a suspect, subsequently choosing Phipps as the gunman. His lawyers are now claiming they have enough evidence overturn his conviction, setting him free.
“There is an undeniable pattern of irregularities that is very easy to see,” defense attorney Buddy Spell told The Huffington Post last week. “We’re talking about major flaws in the testimony that was presented to the jury–testimony that no longer stands up.”
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Mac Phipps was convicted of the shooting death of a teenage fan during one of his shows just days after September 11, 2001. He is slated to serve 30 years for manslaughter. Earlier this year Mac maintained his innocence and explained how he had new found hope in a renewed investigation regarding the shooting: “I just hope that this [renewed investigation] leads to the eventual outcome, which is having the truth come out,” he told XXL. “That’s what I’ve been advocating since I came here: the truth. Hopefully all of this will shed some light on some things that happened.”
Mac was a member of the 504 Boyz: a rap group from New Orleans, Louisiana signed to No Limit Records. The collective also included members Master P, C-Murder, Silkk The Shocker, Mystikal and a young Curren$y.
For more on Mac and other trials where rap lyrics are being used as evidence in criminal cases, view the DX Daily below:
