Chris Darden, attorney for suspect in Nipsey Hussle's murder, files to withdraw from case
Attorney Chris Darden on Friday announced he will not be representing the suspect in the murder case of rapper Nipsey Hussle. Darden took to Facebook to make the announcement and cited personal reasons for his decision. He wrote, "You guys have been awfully good to me and my family. Thank you. I am on my way to appear for the last time in People v. Holder. I filed a Motion to Withdraw from the case."
In the long Facebook post, he said: "I thought I should tell you, my friends, first and before anyone else. As for my reasons for withdrawing I don’t know whether I will disclose them later or not. I only know that as a lawyer it is my duty to protect the rights of my clients even in the face of threats or angry mobs. This is the silent solemn oath we took as defense counsel. This is the legacy made for me and all of us who practice as defense counsel in the criminal courts. But allow me to say this; After centuries of a history of black men hung from trees without trial, or after the thousands of cases of black men tried, convicted and executed without counsel; after Gideon v. Wainwright and Powell v. Alabama, I cannot understand why in 2019 some people would deny a black man his 6th Amendment right to counsel of his choice. Or why defending such a man should invite threats not only against me but against my children too."
The attorney who also served as the prosecutor in the infamous case The People v. O. J. Simpson also explained that the right to counsel is not only a constitutional right but also a civil right. Speaking of the many threats he and his family have received after taking the case, Darden said, "These days these cowards don’t send letters instead they sit anonymously behind keyboards threatening a man’s mother and children. And some folks think that’s funny. It isn’t and I won’t ever forget it. To those who issued those threats to my children please pay close attention so there is no misunderstanding. Later."
In an earlier interview to The Times according to LA Times, speaking about why he decided to represent Eric Holder, the suspect in Nipsey Hussle's murder case, Darden said, “I defend poor people — that’s all I do. And he’s definitely poor.”
Hussle was shot down at Slauson Avenue in LA outside the store he owned March 31. The suspect in the case, Holder, was arrested by police April 2.