US rap star TI testified at the end of last week at the trial relating to the previously reported murder of his friend Philant Johnson, who was fatally shot back in 2006. One Hosea Thomas stands accused of the shooting, which took place in Ohio on 3 May that year, when an altercation at a club led to a gun battle on Interstate 75, in which TI's tour buses were sprayed with bullets.
The rapper, real name Clifford Harris, took to the stand for thirty minutes, during the course of which he averred that Johnson was his "best and oldest friend" and expressed his devastation on finding him lying dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
He also explained how the shooting came about, telling the courtroom that the gunfire was the result of an argument that began at an after show party at the Club Ritz venue in Cincinnati. Harris alleges that the fight broke out after a group of men tried to enter a VIP area reserved for the rap star and his entourage, and that the accused, Hosea Thomas, became enraged after being hit on the head with a bottle during the fracas. Thomas then seemingly followed TI and his group, driven in a Jeep by his brother Padron.
TI told the jury: "I noticed headlights and traffic trying to pull along the side of his, getting in the wrong lane of traffic, to pull up along side of us. So, I made Ron aware. 'I got it. It got it'. Before I knew it, shots rang out. At that point, we're calling everybody's name to see if everybody is alright. I called Phil's name. Phil didn't respond. At that point, everybody is trying to get out of the car. Picking Phil up and trying to get Phil out".
Thomas is charged with murder, felonious assault and various weapons charges. His aforementioned brother Padron is testifying against him - though Thomas' defence say he is only doing so to get a reduced sentence for himself. A verdict in the case is expected this week.