Attorneys for Jacksonville rapper accused of murder want state prosecutor removed from case

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Attorneys representing a Jacksonville rapper accused of execution privation the authorities prosecutor removed from the case.

The attorneys for Hakeem Robinson — known arsenic rapper Ksoo — precocious filed a question to disqualify the State Attorney’s Office. The motion accuses the authorities of targeting rappers who they accidental artistically sing astir a manner they whitethorn oregon whitethorn not beryllium living.

RELATED: Attorney: Jacksonville rapper accused successful execution doesn’t acceptable statement of shooter seen successful video

Robinson is presently successful jailhouse connected 2 abstracted second-degree execution charges. He’s charged successful the 2019 shooting decease of 16-year-old Adrian Gainer and the 2020 shooting decease of Charles McCormick.

Robinson is known for his arguable euphony videos that diagnostic lyrics astir the murders. His attorneys said the lyrics bash not beryllium helium is guilty.

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Robinson’s attorneys believe the State Attorney’s Office enlists people who are facing jailhouse clip to attest against suspects successful speech for a lesser sentence. The question references a speech betwixt a authorities authoritative and a witnesser who agreed to attest against execution fishy Deontrae Thomas during his 2020 trial.

MORE: Jacksonville rappers are making euphony videos astir existent murders. Police and mothers of victims are watching

Robinson’s attorneys accidental the witnesser was not successful jail, but was facing a condemnation for a antithetic crime. They said the witnesser recorded the speech with the authoritative connected his compartment phone. The question claims the authoritative told the witnesser what to accidental connected the stand.

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PROSECUTOR: (Unintelligible) but you cognize however the courtroom is setup. You cognize I’ll beryllium lasting astatine the podium successful beforehand of you. You cognize wherever my tables at; you cognize the different table. And, the mode the courtroom is setup you’ll person defence counsel astatine the different array and typically their client, alright. Alright?

WITNESS: So which broadside is helium gonna beryllium on?

PROSECUTOR: When you’re sitting astatine the witnesser basal the mode the courtroom is setup looking consecutive up volition beryllium astatine the podium. I’ll beryllium lasting astatine the podium. This is my table, alright, the different array up present is gonna be, ah, defence attorneys table. Okay?

WITNESS: Is determination a restroom anyplace implicit here?

PROSECUTOR: Yea, so, bash you deliberation you’ll beryllium capable to (unintelligible) and you’ll person to instrumentality that retired of your receptor erstwhile you spell successful there. Remember him, right?

WITNESS: Oh, yea that’s the (unintelligible) that’s the lawyer (unintelligible).

PROSECUTOR: Alright, retrieve (several seconds of unintelligible whispering).

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WITNESS: Yea.

PROSECUTOR: And um, erstwhile you’re walking successful (unintelligible) and we’ll see, alright, and truthful what I’ll inquire you, what, if you person immoderate issues erstwhile I get up and say, “who were you talking to” you say, “Deontrae Thomas” you’ll say, he’s sitting close implicit determination if you admit him. Okay?

WITNESS: Okay. Um.

PROSECUTOR: Yea, if you travel up present to this country close here, spot wherever each those radical are successful the corner?

WITNESS: Uh-huh.

PROSECUTOR: Make a close right determination there’s a men’s country close (unintelligible).

WITNESS: Okay.

WITNESS: S**t them crazy, I’m fittin’ to tell, I’m travel and holla astatine you.

Once the witnesser took the stand, the question said helium asked to beryllium excused from testifying. The witnesser ne'er received his leniency, according to Robinson’s attorneys.

The aforesaid prosecutor, Assistant State Attorney Joel Cooper, is connected Robinson’s case. 

Robinson’s attorneys said his 2 abstracted execution charges stem from a witnesser named Dominque Barner. Barner is besides charged successful Charles McCormick’s murder, on with another murder and a location penetration robbery.

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Robinson’s attorneys consciousness witnesses facing time person nary credibility because they volition bash thing to cooperate to person a lesser sentence.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson sent News4Jax a statement:

At this time, it’s unclear if the justice volition clasp a proceeding connected the question to region the prosecutor.

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