FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Attorneys for three suspects charged in the fatal shooting of rapper XXXTentacion were back in a Broward County courtroom Tuesday for a hearing ahead of their trial.
Canadian rapper and singer Aubrey Graham, better known as Drake, was a hot topic in the first half of Tuesday’s motions.
Mauricio Padilla, the attorney for Dedrick Williams, attempted to get the judge to perpetuate a deposition from Drake as he claimed Drake and people associated with him, specifically Livingston Allen, also known as DJ Akademiks, may have had issues with XXXTentacion.
After a lot of back and forth, the judge eventually denied the motion, saying there was no need for him to make an order to force them to be deposed.
All parties later agreed that no one would be permitted to wear graphic T-shirts during the trial for or against any of the defendants or for or against XXXTentacion.
CLICK HERE to watch part 1 of Jan. 10′s hearing.
The state also sought to prevent the defense teams from disparaging the late rapper’s character, but the defense attorneys fired back that Assistant State Attorney Pascale Achille’s request was too broad and she could use it to prevent them from saying the rapper was involved with people who may have wanted to harm him -- arguing it shows intent not character.
The judge said they would deal with that issue when it comes up during trial.
On Monday, the attorneys for Williams, Michael Boatwright and Trayvon Newsome, motioned to have each severed from the other, so that they each have their own cases and will not be listed as co-defendants.
“Mr. Williams, Mr. Newsome, and Mr. Boatwright all deserve to have a fair trial,” Joe Kimok, Boatwright’s attorney, said.
[RELATED: LISTEN: The Florida Files Podcast: The Life and Death of XXXTentacion]
The judge denied those requests, but left the opportunity open for the attorneys to ask the court to re-address it if some concerns about discussions on gang activity come up.
WATCH: Part 2 of Jan. 10 hearing
Last August, another suspect, Robert Allen, accepted a deal to testify against his three co-defendants in the killing of the 20-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jahseh Onfroy, in 2018.
Allen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm instead of first-degree murder.
Detectives say the group ambushed and robbed the rapper shortly before 4 p.m., on June 18, 2018, outside of RIVA Motorsports in Deerfield Beach.
Authorities said Boatwright is the one who fatally shot Onfroy.
Jury selection is set to begin on Jan. 18.
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