Tory Lanez Sentencing Delayed

Today Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was in court to receive his sentence after his conviction on felony assault and gun possession charges [click here if you missed that]. 

After much deliberation the sentence has been delayed...

...for one more day.

Alright we are on the 90-minute break. Judge Herriford got 70+ letters of support for Tory Lanez, including one from @IggyAzalea. He briefly summarized each one. Two jailers wrote letters, one spoke in court. Lanez' father, Sonstar Peterson, was the last speaker before the break.

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023

Sonstar tearfully apologized to Judge Herriford for his HUGE outburst in the courtroom after the verdict, said he was emotional and doesn't disrespect the judge.

Before all this, Herriford decided the aggravating factors. Yes to use of a gun and Meg as a vulnerable victim.

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023

But Judge Herriford said no to finding the crime was done with a high-level of callousness. How this will affect the sentence is not yet known. We're going to get into that after lunch, after more speakers.

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023

A jail chaplain spoke about Lanez starting a daily prayer in the protective custody unit that has lessened the tensions between inmates. He said of the 15,000 inmates he's come into contact with, Lanez stands out. He said the daily moment of prayer is really powerful.

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023

I haven't seen the letters yet, but most interesting to me was Herriford saying a jailer wrote a letter that says Lanez "is remorseful" and has "talked in detail about the event and what he could have done to prevent it."

It's the closest we've ever come to Lanez saying he did.

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023

That jailer didn't talk in court, but the chaplain did. (I should be able to get the letters, but maybe not today.)

Judge Herriford said Iggy Azalae's letter asks him to impose a sentence "that is transformational, not life destroying."

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023

Incredibly, Judge Herriford managed to not finish today. We are coming back tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. A few more things to talk about, then argument, then Herriford will sentence Tory Lanez.

Megan did not speak in person, but she submitted a statement that DA Kathy Ta read aloud.

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023