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Man acquitted in rapper's killing
LOS ANGELES, (UPI) -- A man acquitted in the shooting of a rapper in Los Angeles said he fired in self-defense.
Aubrey Berry, 24, was acquitted of murder Friday. The Los Angeles Times said the case focused partly on the victim's gangsta-rap lyrics, which were described as violent.
The rapper "Dolla," whose real name was Roderick Anthony Burton II, was killed in May 2009 in a parking garage at the Beverly Center.
At trial last week, Berry said he opened fire after Burton, 21, threatened to kill him and reached toward his back as though he were about to draw a gun. Police said found no weapon on Burton.
Burton was shot once in the left biceps and three times in the back, the Times said.
Berry testified that a group of men including Burton had kicked and punched him 11 days earlier at an Atlanta nightclub.
Outside court, defense attorney Howard R. Price said, "His music is horrendous, offensive. I don't think he engendered any sympathy."
At trial, Price said Burton as a violent gang member, and played Burton's video and the song "Is You Holdin'?" during closing arguments.
LOS ANGELES, (UPI) -- A man acquitted in the shooting of a rapper in Los Angeles said he fired in self-defense.
Aubrey Berry, 24, was acquitted of murder Friday. The Los Angeles Times said the case focused partly on the victim's gangsta-rap lyrics, which were described as violent.
The rapper "Dolla," whose real name was Roderick Anthony Burton II, was killed in May 2009 in a parking garage at the Beverly Center.
At trial last week, Berry said he opened fire after Burton, 21, threatened to kill him and reached toward his back as though he were about to draw a gun. Police said found no weapon on Burton.
Burton was shot once in the left biceps and three times in the back, the Times said.
Berry testified that a group of men including Burton had kicked and punched him 11 days earlier at an Atlanta nightclub.
Outside court, defense attorney Howard R. Price said, "His music is horrendous, offensive. I don't think he engendered any sympathy."
At trial, Price said Burton as a violent gang member, and played Burton's video and the song "Is You Holdin'?" during closing arguments.