Tweet
A Mistrial Looms Over The Notorious BIG Trial As New Evidence Is Uncovered
Yesterday (July 5th), the Wallace family's legal team divulged that an LAPD detective allegedly hid records that implicated two corrupt police officers in The Notorious B.I.G.'s murder.
The new development postponed the family's wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles until tomorrow, July 7th and could possibly lead to a mistrial. According to family attorney Perry Sanders Jr., the hidden records are a secret file and two videotapes featuring a prison informant saying that corrupt cop Rafael Perez admitted that he and fellow crooked cop David A. Mack helped to arrange Biggie's 1997 killing. The records were hidden in Detective Steven Katz' "middle desk drawer."
According to the lawyer for the City of Los Angeles, Vincent Marella, Det. Steven Katz "just forgot they were in there" until he began preparing to testify 12 days ago. Word is Judge Florence Marie Cooper didn't believe Katz's claim.
"The notion that Katz forgot about the file is incredible to the court. It defies credulity. I do not believe it," the judge said
The documented statements were recently discovered in police files last weekend after someone at the LAPD tipped off lawyers with an anonymous phone call. Deputy City Attorney Don Vincent said he found the report and a taped interview of the informant late on June 24th. The statements were made by the informant, "Kenny B," five years ago.
Judge Cooper is set to reach a decision on how to handle the LAPD's alleged conduct when the trial resumes tomorrow. Sources say the family's attorneys want Cooper to rule a "default judgment," in which the city of Los Angeles would be held responsible for Biggie's murder and push the trial to the monetary damages stage or announce a mistrial. The City of Los Angeles wants the trial to continue as if the tapes were never discovered.
The Wallace family's lawyers claim that Mack, an LAPD officer, plotted with Death Row head Marion "Suge" Knight to have the rapper slain to avenge Tupac Shakur's killing.
Source: sohh
The new development postponed the family's wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles until tomorrow, July 7th and could possibly lead to a mistrial. According to family attorney Perry Sanders Jr., the hidden records are a secret file and two videotapes featuring a prison informant saying that corrupt cop Rafael Perez admitted that he and fellow crooked cop David A. Mack helped to arrange Biggie's 1997 killing. The records were hidden in Detective Steven Katz' "middle desk drawer."
According to the lawyer for the City of Los Angeles, Vincent Marella, Det. Steven Katz "just forgot they were in there" until he began preparing to testify 12 days ago. Word is Judge Florence Marie Cooper didn't believe Katz's claim.
"The notion that Katz forgot about the file is incredible to the court. It defies credulity. I do not believe it," the judge said
The documented statements were recently discovered in police files last weekend after someone at the LAPD tipped off lawyers with an anonymous phone call. Deputy City Attorney Don Vincent said he found the report and a taped interview of the informant late on June 24th. The statements were made by the informant, "Kenny B," five years ago.
Judge Cooper is set to reach a decision on how to handle the LAPD's alleged conduct when the trial resumes tomorrow. Sources say the family's attorneys want Cooper to rule a "default judgment," in which the city of Los Angeles would be held responsible for Biggie's murder and push the trial to the monetary damages stage or announce a mistrial. The City of Los Angeles wants the trial to continue as if the tapes were never discovered.
The Wallace family's lawyers claim that Mack, an LAPD officer, plotted with Death Row head Marion "Suge" Knight to have the rapper slain to avenge Tupac Shakur's killing.
Source: sohh
Comment