Rap star Busta Rhymes has rejected an offer of six months in prison for two assault charges, but is currently considering a plea deal that would allow him to plead guilty to a lesser charge and not serve any time.
Manhattan judge Tanya Kennedy proposed that Rhymes, real name Trevor Smith, could agree to the plea of third-degree assault, in which case he would be given a conditional discharge, under the terms of which he would need to perform community service and take anger management classes. He would also be on probation for three years. Currently free on $3,500 bail, Rhymes did not speak during the hearing, or to reporters following his appearance in court on Tuesday.
The hip-hopper is accused of beating his former driver, one Edward Hatchett "with a closed fist about the head and neck" as well as kicking him in the upper body as the pair argued over back pay. The attack is alleged to have taken place on 26 Dec outside Rhymes' Manhattan office, and, claim prosecutors, left Hatchett with cuts, bruises and in considerable pain. The second charge of assault relates to an incident in which the rapper is accused of assaulting a 'fan' for spitting on his car during the AmsterJam Music Festival back on 12 Aug last year.
Meanwhile, Rhymes is still refusing to cooperate with police in their investigation into the Feb 2006 shooting f his bodyguard Israel Ramirez.