by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 20 – A multi-defendant Bronx gang case began with the language of protective order and now a one-defendant trial involving the meaning of drill rap lyrics.
On March 23, 2023 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lewis J. Liman arraigned three of the defendants. Inner City Press went and covered it.
All three pleaded not guilty.
On July 31, as to lead and co-defendant Kevin Perez, the US Attorney's Office wrote in "to inform the Court that the Government will NOT week the death penalty against defendant Kevin Perez in this case."
On March 11, opening statements, police witnesses and cooperator Vance Brockington, commenting on music video of OYK. Thread and more on Substack here.
Docket photo on X for Subscribers here.
and on Patreon here
On March 17, the defense case including the first cooperator's sister who said she saw his testimony on Inner City Press and concluded that he was lying. Then his manager, and former girlfriend - thread.
On March 18 Inner City Press tweeted the closing arguments of prosecutors and defense, which ended with it's been drill rap on trial.
On March 19 the jury deliberated and finally sent out a note asking for a definition of "reasonable person." Thread. The judge asked for letters by 6 pm and sent the jury home at 5.
Past 6 pm the US filed a letter on Patreon here
On March 20, after the jury said it could not reach unanimity on one charge, they returned with mostly - but not all - guilty verdicts. Sentencing was set for July 16.
More including analysis on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
The overall case is USA v. Perez, et al., 1:23-cr-99 (Liman)
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