Late Rapper PnB Rock’s Murder Trial Begins, Defense Claims A Lack Of Evidence And ‘Guesswork’
PnB Rock's murder trial kicked off Tuesday, and the defense is citing a lack of evidence and "guesswork."
The rapper was shot multiple times in a robbery at cult-favorite restaurant Roscoe's Chicken 'N Waffles in South Los Angeles back in 2022. He was 30.
According to 'Rolling Stone,' a jury of eight men and four women were selected.
Rock, real name Rakim Hasheem Allen, was approached before an argument with the shooter began that afternoon at the restaurant, which is located just 4.5 miles from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, per 'NBC News.'
Per 'HipHopDX,' Tremont Jones, 46 — who pleaded not guilty — was charged with two counts of robbery, one count of conspiring to rob PnB Rock inside Roscoe's and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. He is currently being accused of tipping off the gunman to Rock's location and allegedly providing the firearm, according to the outlet.
Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Timothy Richardson gave an opening statement to the jury, revealing that days before the trial, footage was obtained by the prosecution showing suspect Freddie Trone allegedly instructing his 17-year-old son to enter the restaurant the rapper was in to rob and shoot him.
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"My client, Freddie Trone, did not pull the trigger," Trone's lawyer Winston McKesson stated, maintaining that the aforementioned assumption was "guesswork."
"He was not inside the restaurant at the time. This charge of murder is the most serious charge. We have to have evidence to support it," he stated, per 'VIBE.'
"You will hear no evidence that he planned this with his son. That he instructed his son to do this, or he egged him on. They will have evidence that my client did help his son cover this up. We're not disputing that. What we're saying is the gunman acted alone," McKesson maintained.
Freddie Trone pled not guilty to one count of murder, two counts of robbery, and a count of conspiracy to commit a felony. Stephanie Sibounheuang, Rock's then-girlfriend, took to social media after the harrowing altercation, declaring in a heartfelt post that her man "saved her life."
"My last day with u. I told you 'I know you my husband. I know you my soulmate.' Even it was for a little bit. At least we got to experience what having a soul mate is... and for that...I am grateful," she wrote.
