Manhattan judge rejects bid to drop charges against Remy Ma
NEW YORK - Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma, accused of shooting an acquaintance in July over missing money, also must face witness intimidation and gang assault charges arising from a later bar fight, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Remy Ma’s lawyer, Ivan Fisher, asked the court to dismiss the later charges, which stem from an Aug. 19 assault on a witness’s boyfriend in a Bronx nightclub. The 26-year-old rapper is accused of causing several male friends to attack the man, who suffered a black eye, shattered jaw and broken cheek bone.
Fisher tried unsuccessfully to convince state Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller the evidence was insufficient to indict his client on the witness intimidation and gang assault charges.
“We lost,” Fisher said outside court.
The judge adjourned the case until Jan. 3, when the prosecution expects to have results of DNA tests on blood found on Remy Ma’s clothes.
Fisher said Assistant District Attorney Jason Berland wants to see whether blood on Remy Ma’s clothes belonged to Makeda Barnes-Joseph, the woman the rapper is accused of shooting on July 14, 2007.
Berland has said in prior court appearances the shooting occurred after Remy Ma left a birthday party in Greenwich Village, complained that $2,000 was missing from her purse and accused Barnes-Joseph of taking the money.
With a .45-caliber pistol in her hand, Remy Ma got into Barnes-Joseph’s car, told her to dump the contents of her purse and, after a struggle, shot the woman twice in the abdomen, Berland said. Barnes-Joseph was hospitalized for 16 days.
The defendant surrendered to police the next day, Berland said.
The prosecutor said Remy Ma, whose real name is Remy Smith, was the only person charged in the August nightclub beatdown. The victims reported that they covered their faces to protect themselves and did not see who hit them, he said.
Remy Ma remained free on $250,000 bail. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including assault, coercion, gang assault and witness intimidation.
Remy Ma, a Bronx native, was nominated for a Grammy as part of the Terror Squad for the 2004 summer smash “Lean Back.” She also earned the Best Female Hip-Hop Artist award at the 2005 BET Awards.
Besides her solo career, Remy Ma has appeared on recordings with performers Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Eminem and R. Kelly, her Web site says.
SOURCE: BostonHerald
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Email This Post