Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

A7
U.S. NEWS Wednesday 25 april 2018

Rapper Meek Mill freed after high court order

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rap- leveling fierce criticism at
per Meek Mill walked out of the judge as a stream of
prison Tuesday after Penn- high-powered figures and
sylvania’s highest court or- celebrities visited him in jail
dered him freed while he outside Philadelphia just
appeals decade-old gun hours before the Supreme
and drug convictions. Court ruling. Mill issued a
Following a five-month statement saying the past
campaign by his support- months had been “a night-
ers to get him out, the state mare,” and thanked his
Supreme Court directed many supporters and visi-
a Philadelphia judge who tors, who included Rubin,
had jailed him to immedi- New England Patriots own-
ately issue an order releas- er Robert Kraft, and Phila-
ing him on unsecured bail. delphia Mayor Jim Kenney.
Mill was sentenced in No- “Although I’m blessed to
vember to 2 to 4 years in have the resources to fight
prison for probation viola- this unjust situation, I under-
tions. He was taken from stand that many people
the prison by helicopter of color across the country
to Philadelphia, where he don’t have that luxury and
rang the ceremonial bell at I plan to use my platform
the start of the Philadelphia to shine a light on those is- Rapper Meek Mill comes out to ring a Liberty Bell replica before the first half in Game 5 of a
76ers-Miami Heat playoff sues,” Mill said. first-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers,
series. “Welcome home Earlier this month, in a ma- Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Philadelphia.
Meek Mill,” said the game jor victory for Mill, prosecu- Associated Press
announcer to the rapper, tors said they agreed with ibility questions. A spokes- victed and should not per. She said the court “has
who was sitting courtside his lawyers that he should man for District Attorney have spent a single day in impartially and without
next to actor Kevin Hart get a new trial because of Larry Krasner said late jail,” Tacopina said. In an prejudice presided over
and Sixers co-owner Mi- questions raised about the Tuesday that the Supreme opinion earlier this month, numerous proceedings in
chael Rubin. Before the arresting officer. The now- Court’s decision on Meek Judge Genece Brinkley, this matter since 2008.”
game, Mill visited privately retired officer was among Mill’s release was consistent who sent Mill to prison for The Supreme Court denied
with the Sixers in their locker a list of police officers the with the position taken by the probation violations, a defense request to move
room. A team of lawyers prosecutor’s office has their office. Mill’s attorney, strongly defended herself the case to another judge,
and public relations con- sought to keep off the wit- Joe Tacopina, thanked the against accusations by the but said the presiding
sultants had waged an all- ness stand in cases across high court. defense she was waging a judge could opt to remove
out battle to get him freed, the city because of cred- “Meek was unjustly con- vendetta against the rap- herself.q