XXXTENTACION Trial: Drake's Armed Guards Accused Of Blocking Subpoena

BYGabriel Bras Nevares5.0K Views
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According to a codefendant's attorney, the Canadian artist's team actively sought to ignore or dismiss the court order.

The defense team in XXXTENTACION's murder trial accused Drake and his camp of blocking a subpoena. Moreover, codefendant Dedrick Williams' lawyer, Mauricio Padilla, filed a motion in Broward accusing Drizzy's guards of dismissing the court order. According to the Miami Herald, the Friday (February 17) motion also includes a request for the rapper to attend a deposition to detail his involvement in X's death. While many in the court seem to dismiss his supposed involvement, the defense team is adamant about needing his testimony. However, Broward Judge Michael Usan nulled an order on Tuesday (February 14) that would've called Drake for a virtual deposition on February 24.

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 27: Rapper Drake leaves the court following the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the LA Clippers at Scotiabank Arena on December 27, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Furthermore, the "Nice For What" artist faced contempt in court if the order remained and he didn't show. Still, Padilla retained the ability to subpoena Drake after Judge Usan's order. As such, he issued yet another motion asking authorities to require a deposition from the rapper. Also, he wants him held in contempt of court if he misses it. Even though a lack of evidence suggests otherwise, the attorney maintained that Drake had a hand in X's death.

“The court explained the importance of balancing the rights of the defendants to investigate this first degree murder case properly with Aubrey Drake Graham’s privacy issues,” the motion read. “It was clear by the court’s ruling that he expected for the parties to work together and that despite entering the order vacating, that he expected the deposition to take place.” In addition, Padilla stated that Drake's attorney, Bradford Cohen, refused to accept a subpoena for him to testify. Moreover, he claimed that armed guards at Drake's California home prevented a servicer from handing the order.

Meanwhile, Cohen stated that Padilla exhibited a "lack of foundation" in his efforts. Furthermore, Law & Crime footage from Monday court proceedings (February 13) illuminates the process. For example, he explained that Padilla sent Drake an unsealed Zoom link and didn't detail its conduction. Therefore, Cohen labeled the subpoena as "procedurally defective." Whether Judge Usan accepts Padilla's new motion on Tuesday (February 21) remains unknown. Regardless, come back to HNHH for the latest updates on Drake in the XXXTENTACION murder trial.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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