Proceedings in the ongoing Murder Inc trial turned to the 2000 shooting of 50 Cent at the end of last week, even though the judge hearing the case initially said the shooting could only be discussed if raised by a witness.
According to some reports, the prosecution again raised the 50 Cent shooting after their surprise witness, Donell Nichols, failed to deliver the goods. As previously reported, the authorities are trying to prove that the owners of the Murder Inc record label, Irv and Chris Lorenzo "Gotti", used the then Universal Music imprint to launder money for notorious drug dealer Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. It was alleged Nichols, who worked for the label for a time, initially as an intern, would testify that money regularly changed hands between McGriff and the Lorenzo brothers. But Nichols' credibility as a witness was called into question as soon as he first took to the stand at the start of last week, with some claiming he had a reputation for "fabricating stories" about his status at Murder Inc.
With Nichols' revelations seemingly failing to make any real impact in court last week, the prosecution again returned to the 50 Cent shooting. They claim that McGriff organized the shooting of the rapper on behalf of Irv Lorenzo, who was angry that 50 Cent had dissed him in a track. That, they say, demonstrates the close relationship between the drug dealer and the label chief. The Lorenzo brothers' lawyers have always objected to any discussions of the 50 Cent shooting taking place as part of this court case, but on this occasion Judge Edward Korman reversed a previous decision and said he would allow the prosecution to question witnesses about McGriff's involvement in the shooting. That might mean that 50 Cent himself will be called to the witness stand, boosting the media profile of this long running case.