Drake files legal motion to avoid deposition at XXXTentacion murder trial, calls it 'unreasonable and procedurally flawed'
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA: Drake is attempting to avoid being called as a witness in the XXXTentacion murder trial and is taking legal action to do so. The rapper requested that the judge dismiss the subpoena compelling him to appear for a private deposition in late February in a move that was submitted through his lawyer Bradford Cohen.
As was previously reported, a counsel representing one of the accused stated that Aubrey's suspected involvement in the case required more investigation, and Drake had been ordered to take part in a deposition surrounding the murder trial of XXXTentacion.
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Why does Drake not want to be subpoenaed?
According to TMZ, defense lawyer Mauricio Padilla convinced the judge to call Drake as a witness in the case. Dedrick Williams, one of three defendants accused of killing XXX, is represented by Padilla. The three men's murder trial got underway last week. The documents state that Padilla sent Drake a Zoom link for the deposition without encrypting it, which would have jeopardized Drake's security given his status as a global celebrity. A few days later, according to the documents, Padilla allegedly sent a notice to the court without providing specifics of the format of the Drake ZOOM interview. Drake claims that, as a result, the subpoena was procedurally flawed.
According to the motion, Drake also asserts that his name never appeared in the files used for the investigation and that there is no evidence that he has any relevant knowledge of the case. He also claims that asking him to take a deposition is unreasonable and is only intended to "add more layers of celebrity and notoriety to a tragic and unfortunate event." Drake's motion has not yet received a final decision from the judge.
Who are others asked to testify in XXXTentacion's trial?
Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Devonshay Williams, and Trayvon Newsome, three of the four alleged co-defendants, will face trial. The fourth, Robert Allen, admitted admission to charges of second-degree murder in August 2022 and is anticipated to testify against his comrades in order to receive a lesser sentence, as reported by Hiphopdx.
“[Allen] pleaded guilty to a lesser included offense of second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. He still faces a life sentence. Obviously, we are hoping for better than that. But his sentence is deferred and it is likely he will be called as a witness in the case against the other three co-defendants,” Allen’s attorney Jim Lewis explained. He continued, “Mr. Allen’s role was much less than the other three involved. It was always kind of contemplating that the State was looking to use him as a witness in the case.”
The three accused individuals might get a life sentence if found guilty. Authorities think Boatwright was the perpetrator of the armed robbery outside of Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on June 18, 2018, when XXXTentacion was shot and killed. In a Louis Vuitton bag that X had just withdrawn, they made off with $50,000. Following their arrest, the four co-defendants were charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery with a handgun.
In the Broward County murder trial, potential witnesses that could be summoned to the witness stand include Drake, 6ix9ine, Joe Budden, Quavo, and more.