LOS ANGELES, California — Because the jury deliberates within the trial of rapper Tory Lanez, who’s charged with capturing Megan Thee Stallion on July 12, 2020, within the Hollywood Hills, a key witness who did not testify final Friday and was lacking has been situated.
Lawyer Michael Zweiback informed ABC Information that the household “surrendered” Justin Edison on Friday and prosecutors “are conscious.”
“He was discovered and bench warrant was recalled,” Zweiback mentioned, including that Justin Edison “got here ahead at the moment due to what was taking place to his household.”
Justin Edison, who was working as a bodyguard for Megan Thee Stallion in the course of the time of the incident till early 2021, was scheduled to look on the witness stand final Friday however by no means confirmed up, his father, Harold Edison, informed “Good Morning America” in an unique interview.
Harold Edison mentioned he had not heard from Justin since final Thursday.
“My hope is that [Justin] comes ahead in order that he would not assume the dangers that we mentioned earlier than,” Harold Edison informed “GMA.”
“I defined to him that this isn’t definitely worth the threat … we should preserve our integrity,” he added.
Harold Edison mentioned that investigators from the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace have been trying to find his son after he failed to look for his scheduled testimony, with a SWAT crew coming into his dwelling and putting him in handcuffs in entrance of his 8-year-old daughter.
“I really need this to cease. It is a clear abuse of regulation enforcement,” Harold Edison mentioned.
Requested to verify whether or not a SWAT crew was despatched to Harold Edison’s dwelling, the DA’s workplace didn’t reply to ABC Information’ request for remark.
“As this matter includes a trial in progress we decline to remark,” a spokesperson for the DA’s workplace informed ABC Information on Tuesday when requested to verify reviews that investigators are searching for Justin Edison.
In the meantime, Justin Edison’s legal professional Laura Bell informed ABC Information on Monday that she has “no touch upon this case.”
Justin Edison was current within the aftermath of the alleged capturing and was subpoenaed to testify, in response to Los Angeles County Deputy District Lawyer Alexander Bott.
Megan Thee Stallion, whose authorized identify is Megan Pete, testified that Lanez, whose authorized identify is Daystar Peterson, shot and injured each her toes. Lanez, who did not take the witness stand, pleaded not responsible and his attorneys argued in the course of the trial that he’s “falsely accused.”
A key piece of proof introduced to the jury was a textual content message that Pete’s then-friend Kelsey Harris despatched to Justin Edison moments after the incident, saying, “Assist Tory shot Meg 911.”
Harris initially corroborated particulars that time to Lanez because the alleged shooter in a September video interview with prosecutors however modified her story on the witness stand final week.
“I do not know why I mentioned that to Justin. I did not see something occur,” Harris testified, in response to Los Angeles’ KABC.
Harold Edison mentioned his son had been “nervous” about testifying as a result of “this was a high-profile case.”
Requested why the household has not filed a lacking particular person’s report, Zweiback informed ABC Information they “do not belief regulation enforcement” after they began to “harass the household” following Justin’s Edison’s disappearance.
The Los Angeles Police Division informed ABC Information there was no ongoing investigation associated to the disappearance of Justin.
ABC Information has reached out to attorneys for Lanez and Harris for additional remark.
ABC Information’ Matthew Yahata, Sabina Ghebremedhin and Abby Cruz contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2022 ABC Information Web Ventures.
