As rapper C-Murder's retrial for murder got underway last week, his lawyer Ron Rakosky called for a mistrial after it was revealed that the prosecution had reached a plea deal with one of the witnesses who was called to testify against him.
As much previously reported, C-Murder, real name Corey Miller, is accused of shooting 16 year old Steven Thomas in a Louisiana club in 2002. He was found guilty of the crime in 2003, but had his conviction overturned after it was revealed that prosecutors had withheld background information on some of their witnesses.
Bouncer Kenneth Jordan was one of thirteen witnesses called to testify against Miller over three days last week. He was one of two who claimed to have seen the rapper shoot Thomas. However, under cross-examination, Jordan revealed that he had reached a plea deal to have a sexual offence charge dropped in exchange for his testimony.
Rokasky claimed that prosecutors had used "coercive tactics" to force Jordan to testify against his client and called for a mistrial. The request was refused by Judge Hans Liljeberg on Friday, after which the prosecution rested its case.
The trial continues.