Document Women earlier reported Tory Lanez's sentencing (which continues today) during which Megan Thee Stallion claimed she has suffered every day since Lanez shot her in the feet three years ago.
Megan said in the statement read by Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta, "I have not experienced a single day of peace since I was viciously shot by the defendant. Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.”
The rapper said that she debated whether or not to make a personal appearance to provide the statement at trial, but ultimately decided against it because she "simply could not bring myself to be in a room with Tory again."
She pleaded for Judge David Herriford to impose a severe punishment and asked that her absence not be interpreted as a lack of care.
On Monday, when the judge was supposed to hand down Lanez's sentence, the hearing went on for seven hours because Herriford let the lawyers for both sides argue over every possible aspect of the sentence, including Lanez's charitable contributions, his upbringing, and his status as the father of a 6-year-old son.
The prosecution is requesting a term of 13 years in prison for Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson and who is 31 years old. Assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm, and negligent discharge of a firearm are all felonies for which Lanez was found guilty.
In a sentencing memo, Lanez's attorneys argued that he should receive just probation and be allowed to leave jail to participate in a residential substance rehabilitation programme. They intend to challenge his conviction.
According to Megan's testimony during the trial, Lanez pointed the gun at the back of her feet as she left the SUV in which they had been riding in the summer of 2020 and yelled at her to dance. They had just left a party at Kylie Jenner's mansion in the Hollywood Hills.
Christian preacher Sonstar Peterson, Lanez's father, sobbed quietly in court on Monday as he told the judge about his wife Luella, who passed away when Lanez was 11 after showing the first symptoms of a rare blood condition.
Regarding the loss of their youngest child, Lanez, he commented, "I don't think anybody ever gets over that. But music became his outlet."
Even before he became famous and wealthy as a musician in 2017, several witnesses attested to Lanez's practically continual philanthropic donations.
Raina Cassagne, his son's mother, praised him as "the most supportive father, the funnest father."
More than a dozen people, including musician Iggy Azalea, wrote letters to Herriford pleading for a sentence that was "transformative, not life-destroying."
The court mentioned that Lanez's 6-year-old son had also submitted a handwritten letter, but Herriford gave no details.
A chaplain from the Los Angeles County Jail testified in court that Lanez has organized daily prayer groups in the protective custody unit where he is being kept, helping to keep tensions down.
On Monday, Herriford found in favor of both parties, giving no hint as to what penalty he would ultimately impose.
The judge considered the legal circumstances, finding that Megan was a particularly vulnerable victim when she was shot, but that Lanez was not particularly cruel or callous in firing at her.
Herriford added that he will take into account the philanthropic work done by Lanez and the positive things that have been mentioned about him as a dependable member of the community.
Nonetheless, the judge added that he would take into account what prosecutors described Lanez's attempts to intimidate Megan and cast doubt on whether she was shot at all through social media posts and song lyrics.
Herriford added that Lanez showed no regret for his actions, but he will not let it affect his decision because the rapper has a right to his innocence.
Megan mentioned Lanez's lack of regret in her statement, adding that he "has blamed the system, blamed the press, and as of late has tried to take advantage of his childhood trauma."
