In anticipation of his sentencing on August 7th, Tory Lanez‘s legal team is requesting a sentence of probation and enrollment in a substance abuse program as punishment for the shooting incident involving Megan Thee Stallion.
According to a 41-page memo filed by the rapper, born Daystar Peterson, attorneys, Jose Baez and Ed Welbourn, on August 1st, they argue that their client was grappling with alcoholism at the time of the alleged shooting, which they believe mitigates his culpability. The memo states, “Assuming the allegations are true, Mr. Peterson’s psychological, physical, and childhood trauma played a role in the commission of the offense. Similarly, the current offense is linked to Mr. Peterson’s childhood trauma and mental illness, specifically his alcohol-use disorder.”
While Baez and Welbourn acknowledge that Tory Lanez is typically “presumptively ineligible for probation” due to the jury’s findings of two aggravating circumstances – discharging a weapon and causing significant bodily harm to Megan Thee Stallion during the July 2020 incident – they point out that California law allows for exceptions in extraordinary cases. They assert that Lanez’s situation qualifies as such an unusual case and that “the interests of justice would best be served if Mr. Peterson is granted probation.”
Lanez is scheduled to be sentenced at 10:30 a.m. on Monday before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Herriford in downtown Los Angeles.
