The sentencing of embattled Canadian rapper, Tory Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was once again delayed following his court hearing on Monday, 7 August.
The Los Angeles Superior Court is waiting to see what sentence Lanez, 31, will be given after he was convicted of first-degree assault, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and having a concealed and unregistered firearm in a vehicle in December 2022.
Megan Thee Stallion, 28, had accused Lanez of shooting her in the foot in a July 2020 incident.
Prosecutors have asked a judge to sentence Lanez to 13 years in prison, while his defense team is seeking probation.
The sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for Monday, but it was delayed after Lanez’s defense team filed a motion for a new trial.
The motion was denied, and the sentencing hearing is now set to continue on Tuesday.
Lanez was found guilty of one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, one count of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, and one count of felony assault.
He faces a maximum sentence of 22 years and 8 months in prison.
Prosecutors argued that Lanez should be sentenced to the maximum sentence because he showed no remorse for his actions and continued to lie about the shooting even after he was convicted.
They also said that Lanez’s actions had a significant impact on Megan Thee Stallion, who has suffered physical and emotional trauma as a result of the shooting.
Lanez’s defense team argued that he should be sentenced to probation because he has no prior criminal record and has been a productive member of society.
They also said that Lanez was intoxicated at the time of the shooting and that he did not intend to hurt Megan Thee Stallion.
READ ALSO: LA Jury Finds Tory Lanez Guilty In Megan Thee Stallion Shooting
Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, told the judge on Monday that his youngest child was 11 when his mother died, calling it a trauma that “I don’t think anybody ever gets over.”
Judge David Herriford received 76 letters, including a handwritten one from Lanez’s 6-year-old son, according to Meghann Cuniff, a journalist who has been following the case.
The mother of his son, Raina Cassagne, called Lanez “the most supportive” and “the funnest father.”
In a letter to the judge, rapper Iggy Azalea pleaded for a “transformative, not life-destroying” sentence for her fellow artist. Other witnesses, including a police chief in Missouri and a state representative, mentioned Lanez’s charitable giving.
The judge is expected to issue a ruling on Lanez’s sentence on Tuesday.
In addition to the criminal charges, Lanez is also facing a civil lawsuit from Megan Thee Stallion.
She is seeking damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost earnings. The civil trial is scheduled to begin in February 2024.
Court reporter Meghann Cuniff – who has earned the affectionate monicker “Meghann Thee Reporter” from Megan’s fans during the longwinded trial – tweeted: “Incredibly, Judge Herriford managed to not finish today… Megan did not speak in person, but she submitted a statement that DA Kathy Ta read aloud.”
According to Cuniff, the “WAP” artist said she “struggled with whether to attend in person, and her absence should be seen as her preserving her mental well-being”.
She reportedly said since Lanez shot her, “I’ve not experienced a single day of peace.” “He lied to anyone that would listen,” Megan said of Lanez.
Cuniff added: “Megan said mercy is for people who show remorse, and Lanez has shown none. She thanked the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for their support. She wants the sentence to be a message for everyone woman of violence.”
Herriford said Lanez had a clear lack of remorse, but the judge added that he wouldn’t allow that to be a factor because the defendant has a right to maintain his innocence, the Associated Press reported.