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Court Rules Violent Rap Lyrics Should Not Have Been Evidence In NJ Trial
Not condoning the crime, but imo great decision.
By DAVID PORTER PublishedAugust 4, 2014, 11:37 AM EDT
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Violent rap lyrics should not have been admitted into evidence in an attempted murder trial, New Jersey's highest court ruled Monday. The ruling upholds an appeals court that had thrown out Vonte Skinner's conviction for shooting a fellow drug dealer in 2005.
Both courts faulted the trial judge for allowing prosecutors to read the lyrics to jurors. Among the lyrics written years before the crime, Skinner boasted about "four slugs drillin' your cheek to blow your face off and leave your brain caved in the street."
In Monday's 6-0 ruling, the state Supreme Court wrote that admitting the lyrics was highly prejudicial to the jury and wasn't outweighed by the lyrics' relevance to establishing motive or intent.
The case has been watched closely by civil liberties advocates who contend the lyrics should be considered protected free speech. In an amicus brief in support of Skinner, the ACLU New Jersey argued that rap lyrics, because of their violent imagery, are treated differently than other written works.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Violent rap lyrics should not have been admitted into evidence in an attempted murder trial, New Jersey's highest court ruled Monday. The ruling upholds an appeals court that had thrown out Vonte Skinner's conviction for shooting a fellow drug dealer in 2005.
Both courts faulted the trial judge for allowing prosecutors to read the lyrics to jurors. Among the lyrics written years before the crime, Skinner boasted about "four slugs drillin' your cheek to blow your face off and leave your brain caved in the street."
In Monday's 6-0 ruling, the state Supreme Court wrote that admitting the lyrics was highly prejudicial to the jury and wasn't outweighed by the lyrics' relevance to establishing motive or intent.
The case has been watched closely by civil liberties advocates who contend the lyrics should be considered protected free speech. In an amicus brief in support of Skinner, the ACLU New Jersey argued that rap lyrics, because of their violent imagery, are treated differently than other written works.
Link: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/rap-lyrics-evidence-trial
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
During the trial, state prosecutors read 13 pages of rap lyrics that were found in the back seat of the car Skinner was driving when he was arrested. Some of the writings were penned three or four years before the Peterson shooting.
In its ruling overturning the verdict, the appellate court said that caution must be exercised when allowing prior writings as evidence in a trial. The judges also wrote that the lyrics weren't necessary to buttress the state's case.
In its ruling overturning the verdict, the appellate court said that caution must be exercised when allowing prior writings as evidence in a trial. The judges also wrote that the lyrics weren't necessary to buttress the state's case.
How do the lyrics prove Skinner was the murderer? How do the lyrics prove motive? Was the car he was driving when he was caught actually used in the crime? Did the prosecution claim that the lyrics were either a set of instructions or some kind of confession? Did the defense claim the lyrics turned him into a murderer?
P.S. Skinner, I'm surprised at you -- It's bad enough that you're dealing drugs and shooting people, but you haven't cleaned out your car in FOUR YEARS?
rocktivity
I agree...ridiculous and thought the same thing when I saw the name Skinner....I was going to embolden it put didn't. 
