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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on Meek Mill hearing (all times local):
4:10 p.m.
Lawyers for Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill have asked an appeals court to grant him a new trial before a new judge on 2008 drug and gun charges that have kept him on probation for a decade.
Assistant District Attorney Paul George has told the court that prosecutors no longer trust the police officer who was the sole government witness in the case. George says the retired officer won't be called if the case is retried.
Defense lawyer Kim Watterson says Meek Mill's case would likely fall apart without the police testimony. They also accuse the judge of acting like a prosecutor in the case.
The 32-year-old performer born Robert WIlliams has become a champion of criminal justice reform since he was sent back to prison in 2017 over minor parole violations.
The appeals court hearing lasted only 30 minutes. They didn't indicate when they would issue a ruling.
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1 a.m.
Lawyers for Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill will ask an appeals court Tuesday to overturn a 2008 drug and gun conviction that's kept the Philadelphia rapper on probation for a decade.
They say the city judge who oversees the case and sent him to prison in 2017 on a parole violation has a grudge against the performer.
And city prosecutors agree. They've filed a motion supporting his bid to toss the conviction and be retried under a new judge.
The 32-year-old, born Robert Rihmeek Williams, has become a voice for criminal justice reform. He spent four months in prison on the violation before being released last year.
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