Meek Mill Gets A New Trial

Meek Mill (Photo: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com)

A PENNSYLVANIA appeals court overturned rapper MEEK MILL's 2008 conviction on gun and drug charges, ordering a new trial and judge in the case, CNN reports. The Court ruled that a trial judge erred in not granting the PHILADELPHIA rapper a new trial "based on after-discovered evidence," in accordance with the state's Post-Conviction Relief Act.

The PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE said in a statement that the appeals court "validated our position that ROBERT RIHMEEK WILLIAMS deserves a new trial before a court that has no appearance of partiality."

After MEEK, out on parole after a 2008 gun conviction, was sent back to prison after being accused of assault in 2017, evidence came forward that a police officer who testified in the 2008 case was on the PHILADELPHIA DA Office's "secret list" of police officers with reputations for being untrustworthy. Other officers accused that same person of dishonest behavior in MEEK's case as well as in others', which led to that officer's resignation from the force. Nevertheless, Judge GENECE BRINKLEY of the PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS turned down a petition for a new trial last year.

But Superior Court Judge JACK PANELLA overturned Judge's BRINKLEY's ruling because "WILLIAMS' right to be tried before an impartial judge is necessary in this case because the trial judge heard highly prejudicial testimony at the first trial, which was a bench trial, and made credibility determinations in favor of a now discredited witness and against WILLIAMS."

The court also vacated two other sentences handed down for parole violations stemming from the 2008 case.

"I'd like to thank the PENNSYLVANIA SUPERIOR COURT for overturning my conviction and granting me a new trial," MEEK said. "The past 11 years have been mentally and emotionally challenging, but I'm glad that justice prevailed and my clean record has been restored." 

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