Tory Lanez’s Appeal Suffers Another Setback As Prosecutors’ Request Causes Delay

  

Tory Lanez’s appeal of his conviction for shooting Megan Thee Stallion has encountered another delay. The court has granted the government's latest request for more time to respond to Lanez's appeal brief, causing a further setback in the case.

The Canadian rapper, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, filed his opening brief in late February, outlining arguments for appeal based on “Erroneous Admission of Evidence” and “Prosecutorial Misconduct.” This 103-page brief echoed many points from his earlier motion for a new trial, which Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Herriford denied in May.

Initially, prosecutors were given until May 28 to respond to Lanez’s brief, following a request for more time in March. On May 21, the prosecution requested another extension, which was granted on May 23. They now have until June 27 to file their answer.

The delay prolongs the appeal process, which was hoped to conclude by the end of the year, as per Law & Crime reporter Meghann Cuniff. Cuniff noted that the brief builds on a habeas petition from December, featuring a declaration from Lanez’s driver. The driver claimed he saw Lanez trying to take a gun away from Megan’s friend, Kelsey Harris, before the shooting but did not see who fired the shots.

Lanez was sentenced to ten years in prison in September 2023, three years less than the prosecution sought. He faced a maximum of 22 years and eight months and will be deported to Canada after serving his sentence.

The case drew significant attention, particularly after a strong statement from Megan Thee Stallion was read in court by District Attorney Kathy Ta. Megan condemned Lanez for spreading false narratives and exacerbating her trauma through his music and social media campaigns.

“He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma,” Megan wrote. “He lied to anyone that would listen and paid bloggers to disseminate false information about the case.”

As the legal battle continues, the extended timeline adds to the anticipation surrounding the final resolution of this high-profile case.