Nickatilynx
03-18-2005, 11:26 AM
Hip-hop star is guilty of perjury
Lil' Kim had pleaded not guilty to perjury and conspiracy charges
Rap star Lil' Kim has been convicted of lying under oath about a gunfight.
She had told a federal grand jury that she did not witness two of her friends involved in the incident outside a radio station in Manhattan in 2001.
The 30-year-old could face five-year jail terms after a New York jury found her guilty on three counts of perjury and one of conspiracy.
Lil' Kim, real name Kimberley Jones, had denied all the charges against her. She plans an appeal.
The jury cleared her of obstructing justice, avoiding a potential 10-year jail term.
Radio gunfight
Famous for her raunchy outfits and explicit lyrics, Jones appeared calm as the verdict was announced, and was cheered by supporters as she left the court.
You would have to believe they were magic sunglasses that only block out your friends, who were shooting people
Prosecutor Cathy Seibel on Lil' Kim's defence
Charges were brought against the Grammy-winning artist after a gunfight erupted outside the Hot 97 radio station on 25 February 2001.
Jones and members of her rap group Junior Mafia had been guests on the station.
As they left the building, a shootout broke out between members of her entourage and rival group Capone-N-Noreaga.
The group had challenged their rivals about an insult aimed at Jones by another female rapper, Foxy Brown, in a song called Bang Bang.
During grand jury investigations into the shootout in 2003, Jones testified that she did not see Damion Butler, her former co-manager, and Suif Jackson, a close friend, at the scene.
Both men have since pleaded guilty to gun charges.
Photos
In her defence during the perjury trial, Jones said she was wearing sunglasses and did not see the two men.
She reportedly told a grand jury that Mr Butler was not at the radio station and that she did not know Mr Jackson.
Her lawyers also told the jury that she had already cut both out of her life after disagreements.
However, the jury was shown security photographs of Mr Butler opening doors for Jones.
"You would have to believe they were magic sunglasses that only block out your friends who were shooting people," Assistant US Attorney Cathy Seibel told the jury.
One man was injured in the shootout, which happened at the same radio station where rapper 50 Cent was involved in a gun battle last week
Lil' Kim had pleaded not guilty to perjury and conspiracy charges
Rap star Lil' Kim has been convicted of lying under oath about a gunfight.
She had told a federal grand jury that she did not witness two of her friends involved in the incident outside a radio station in Manhattan in 2001.
The 30-year-old could face five-year jail terms after a New York jury found her guilty on three counts of perjury and one of conspiracy.
Lil' Kim, real name Kimberley Jones, had denied all the charges against her. She plans an appeal.
The jury cleared her of obstructing justice, avoiding a potential 10-year jail term.
Radio gunfight
Famous for her raunchy outfits and explicit lyrics, Jones appeared calm as the verdict was announced, and was cheered by supporters as she left the court.
You would have to believe they were magic sunglasses that only block out your friends, who were shooting people
Prosecutor Cathy Seibel on Lil' Kim's defence
Charges were brought against the Grammy-winning artist after a gunfight erupted outside the Hot 97 radio station on 25 February 2001.
Jones and members of her rap group Junior Mafia had been guests on the station.
As they left the building, a shootout broke out between members of her entourage and rival group Capone-N-Noreaga.
The group had challenged their rivals about an insult aimed at Jones by another female rapper, Foxy Brown, in a song called Bang Bang.
During grand jury investigations into the shootout in 2003, Jones testified that she did not see Damion Butler, her former co-manager, and Suif Jackson, a close friend, at the scene.
Both men have since pleaded guilty to gun charges.
Photos
In her defence during the perjury trial, Jones said she was wearing sunglasses and did not see the two men.
She reportedly told a grand jury that Mr Butler was not at the radio station and that she did not know Mr Jackson.
Her lawyers also told the jury that she had already cut both out of her life after disagreements.
However, the jury was shown security photographs of Mr Butler opening doors for Jones.
"You would have to believe they were magic sunglasses that only block out your friends who were shooting people," Assistant US Attorney Cathy Seibel told the jury.
One man was injured in the shootout, which happened at the same radio station where rapper 50 Cent was involved in a gun battle last week