Tory Lanez trial: Megan thee Stallion expected to testify after explosive opening remarks
Los Angeles, California - Rapper Tory Lanez's trial over the alleged shooting of Meghan Thee Stallion began with scathing and explosive accusations from the prosecution and defense team.
While the 30-year-old Canadian artist's lawyer urged jurors to "keep an open mind," the Los Angeles County Assistant District Attorney Alexander Bott maintained that their surprise star witness will prove that he did shoot Megan Thee Stallion.
The long-awaited trial against the Say It rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, began on Monday, after a lengthy jury selection.
According to Rolling Stone, Bott kicked off opening statements by revealing that Meg's former best friend and assistant Kelsey Harris will testify that she saw Tory Lanez fire the semiautomatic handgun that wounded the 27-year-old Savage rapper in both feet on July 12, 2020.
"Kelsey will tell you that she just saw her close friend get shot by the defendant," the DA said, adding that Harris rushed to Meg's side as she laid bleeding in a random driveway in the Hollywood Hills.
"Kelsey, she'll tell you she didn't know if the defendant still had this gun. She didn't know what the defendant was capable of, if he was going to continue his assault. Her defensive instincts kicked into gear, and she approached the defendant."
Bott also said Harris will confirm that Peterson "physically assaulted her at that point. He pulled her by her hair, and he either punched her or slapped her."
Tory Lanez's defense team accuses Megan thee Stallion of "jealously"
On the other hand, Tory Lanez's defense lawyer George Mgdesyan claimed that the alcohol-fueled fight took place after Meg allegedly became "jealous" that Peterson was hanging out with Kylie Jenner at the party they attended before the incident occurred.
He added that Kris Jenner's boyfriend Corey Gamble will testify about the fight when he takes the stand.
Mgdesyan also told the jurors the fighting escalated in the vehicle when the Luv artist blurted out that he and Meg had been intimate. He insisted that this led to Harris becoming jealous herself and allegedly accusing Meg of doing "the same thing to me when I was with DaBaby, another rapper, and when I was dating Ben Simmons, the NBA basketball player."
Harris' testimony is crucial to the court case, since she was initially considered a wildcard due to her estrangement from Meg.
Lanez, who is facing the maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months, has maintained his innocence having pled not guilty to all the charges against him.
Megan Thee Stallion and her former best friend are expected to testify on Tuesday as the bombshell trial continues.
Cover photo: Collage: CINDY ORD / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP & MARIA ALEJANDRA CARDONA / AFP