Tory Lanez has been denied a motion to replace a member of his legal counsel with a new lawyer who believes the Canadian star is being taken advantage of.
Legal journalist Meghann Cuniff was present in the courtroom in Wednesday (July 12), where a judge denied Ronda Renee Dixon as replacement counsel Matthew Barhoma for Lanez.
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In a prior conversation with Cuniff ahead of the court date, Dixon said Lanez wants her to work under his current lawyer, prominent Miami attorney Jose Baez, but “me and him have some serious issues, because he won’t talk to me.”
“These guys are just taking advantage of [Lanez],” Dixon told Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff. “They’ve had him sign powers of attorneys. They’re acting on his behalf. … They’re not really asking him what he wants.”
Tory Lanez is due in court today. He's got a new lawyer who wants to join his case. I talked to her last night.
"His eyes were black. He was totally despondent. He told me he wanted to go to state prison. I said, 'You want to go to state prison? Why?'" https://t.co/Kvrkm34mhq
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) July 12, 2023
Dixon also shared a copy of a motion she drafted that argues Tory Lanez is being subject to cruel and unusual punishment in jail because of his celebrity status.
“Because Mr. Peterson has viable, meritorious post-conviction litigation, this court should award bail,” she wrote. “The unconstitutional nature of his confinement provides ample justification. Peterson’s conviction is not punishable by death. Because he will apply for probation, file an appeal, and pursue additional post-conviction remedies, this court should admit him bail within the court’s discretion.”
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She continued: “Merely because he is well known, the Sheriff has decided that Mr. Peterson is of such great threat that he must be confined in the same manner as those convicted of serial rape charges and murder.”
It’s unclear why the motion was denied, despite Lanez, his prior lawyer and Dixon signing a substitution of counsel last month.
Tory Lanez will be officially sentenced on August 7. The date was once again pushed back last month when the presiding granted a continuance for the Canadian star’s attorneys.
This marked the third time the sentencing date was delayed. It was initially set for January 2, roughly a month after he was found guilty. However, a judge delayed the sentencing until February 28 due to Lanez changing legal counsel.
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When February 28 rolled around, the date was pushed back even further, as the Canadian rapper filed a motion for a new trial, which was ultimately denied.
Tory Lanez is facing a maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in prison for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion, as well as deportation to his native Canada.
