Brooklyn prosecutors shouldn’t have used a rap song as evidence in a murder trial, a New York state appeals court says, ruling that the lyrics have “inherent ambiguity” and the defendant was “deprived of a fair trial.”
In a decision Tuesday (Sept. 23), New York’s Appellate Division ordered a new trial for Idrissa Reaves, who was convicted of aiding in the 2016 murder of Nashon Henry. The grounds? That prosecutors had improperly cited his jailhouse rap song to help secure a guilty verdict.
Related
Rap Lyrics Are Still Cited in Court, But That Might Be About to Change
How Blond:ish Plans to Eliminate 42 Tons of Waste From NYC Nightlife Every Year: 'This Is My Passion'
Suspect Arrested in Theft of Beyoncé's Unreleased Music
The reversal centered on testimony from a supposed “slang exper