Hip Hop News: Prosecutors Argue That Tory Lanez Should Be Sentenced to 13 Years (2024)

Prosecutors in the Tory Lanez case want the Canadian artist to receive a lengthy sentence. According to independent journalist Meghann Cuniff, who has extensively covered the case surrounding Lanez allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion, a memorandum filed on Tuesday (June 6) showed prosecutors asking for a 13-year sentence.

The group asks the court to consider a “campaign of misinformation” that Lanez, legal name Daystar Peterson, has allegedly spread against Megan.

“Words have power and the pen is oftentimes mightier than the sword. In this case, Daystar Peterson (Tory’s real name) used both,” the memo reads. “Not content to have hurt the victim by use of his sword (gun), he also used his pen. His online posts for nearly three years have re-traumatized the victim.”

The memo adds that Peterson’s actions have “emboldened” his audience to harass Megan online, including his “full-length album [Daystar] with several songs about the shooting,” along with citing his attack on R&B singer August Alsina in September 2022. To prosecutors, each instance shows Peterson giving a lack of remorse.

Aside from the prosecution's stance, Peterson’s lawyers, Matthew Barhoma and Jose Baez, have filed a motion to disqualify Judge David Herriford, accusing the Los Angeles County Superior Court judge of siding with prosecutors. In December, Herriford presided over Peterson’s two-week trial, where the artist was found guilty on three felony counts over the July 2020 shooting. In May, Herriford also rejected the rapper’s motion for a new trial.