09/18/2003 16:59:49 EST Prosecutor Says C-Murder Shot La. Teen
By DOUG SIMPSON
Associated Press Writer
The 16-year-old shot to death by Master P's younger brother, the rapper C-Murder, was a devoted fan with bedroom posters of his killer, prosecutors said at the opening of C-Murder's murder trial.
After an argument started on a nightclub dance floor, C-Murder (born Corey Miller) and about five friends were "beating the tar" out of Steve Thomas when Miller pulled a gun and put a bullet in Thomas' chest, Assistant District Attorney Douglas W. Freese said.
The victim had dreams of a rap career and had posters of the defendant on the walls of his bedroom, Freese said in his opening statement Wednesday.
The judge has issued a gag order in the case. Freese said a witness will testify that he saw Miller shoot the victim inside Club Platinum in suburban New Orleans in January 2002.
Police have said the victim used a fake ID to get into the now-defunct nightclub. There were roughly 300 people inside when the shooting occurred. Miller has acknowledged being in the club that night, but has denied shooting Thomas.
Miller's lawyer, Ronald J. Rokosky, said investigators never found the murder weapon and had no evidence tying Miller to the crime. The only witness to the actual shooting has lied to police and never actually saw a gun in Miller's hand, Rokosky said.
Miller, 30, is charged with second-degree murder and faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted. Wearing a shirt and tie, he smiled and waved at relatives as they came into court for the start of the trial. Master P did not attend.
The trial was expected to last about three weeks.
Miller is one of four brothers who grew up in a violent housing project - far from New Orleans' tourist attractions - while the city's murder rate hovered near the nation's highest. His lyrics depict, often boastfully, a grim world of violence, drugs and crime.
"Papa didn't raise me, mama didn't care for me. A bastard child, no future, no hope. The streets took me in, so I bubble up the dope," he rapped in 2002's "This Or That."
The eldest brother, Kevin, was shot to death in a robbery; he is memorialized on a tattoo on Corey Miller's left shoulder. Master P, founder of the No Limit Records label, is the South's most successful hip-hop impresario.
C-Murder's first recordings came in a trio called TRU, with his brothers (the youngest, Vyshonne, goes by Silkk the Shocker.) They had a 1995 hit "I'm Bout It, Bout It," then two more successful records before C-Murder released the first of his five solo records, "Life Or Death," in 1998, which sold nearly 1 million copies.
Since then, C-Murder's sales have sunk. "C-P-3.com," from 2001, sold 120,000; last year's "Tru Dawgs" sold 95,000.
Miller has a history of trouble with the police, and faces numerous charges besides the second-degree murder count. He was on bail when the Club Platinum shooting occurred, facing an attempted first-degree murder charge for allegedly trying to shoot a Baton Rouge nightclub owner. Police said a fight occurred when the man wanted to check Miller for weapons; the rapper allegedly tried to fire but his gun malfunctioned.
Miller's lyrics and nickname played a central part of jury selection, with defense lawyers quizzing potential jurors on their views about rap and whether they could be impartial toward a murder suspect whose nickname is C-Murder.
One man was dismissed after he described rap as "just about drugs and shooting the cops."
Miller's bond was revoked case after prosecutors accused him of threatening witnesses.
Miller's father, Percy Miller Sr., said Monday that his son is innocent. "This is a lot of stress on the family, but we know he didn't do it," he told The Associated Press outside the courtroom.
He said people should ignore the C-Murder image: a gangster who boasts about his life of crime and violence.
"He's a rapper," the father said. "That's just a character he's playing."
Master P's representatives did not return calls for comment. But in a January, 2002, interview he said he was praying for his brother.
"Everyone has a black sheep in the family that's done something wrong," Master P said. "We're definitely praying for him, hoping that this teaches him a lesson."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By DOUG SIMPSON
Associated Press Writer
The 16-year-old shot to death by Master P's younger brother, the rapper C-Murder, was a devoted fan with bedroom posters of his killer, prosecutors said at the opening of C-Murder's murder trial.
After an argument started on a nightclub dance floor, C-Murder (born Corey Miller) and about five friends were "beating the tar" out of Steve Thomas when Miller pulled a gun and put a bullet in Thomas' chest, Assistant District Attorney Douglas W. Freese said.
The victim had dreams of a rap career and had posters of the defendant on the walls of his bedroom, Freese said in his opening statement Wednesday.
The judge has issued a gag order in the case. Freese said a witness will testify that he saw Miller shoot the victim inside Club Platinum in suburban New Orleans in January 2002.
Police have said the victim used a fake ID to get into the now-defunct nightclub. There were roughly 300 people inside when the shooting occurred. Miller has acknowledged being in the club that night, but has denied shooting Thomas.
Miller's lawyer, Ronald J. Rokosky, said investigators never found the murder weapon and had no evidence tying Miller to the crime. The only witness to the actual shooting has lied to police and never actually saw a gun in Miller's hand, Rokosky said.
Miller, 30, is charged with second-degree murder and faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted. Wearing a shirt and tie, he smiled and waved at relatives as they came into court for the start of the trial. Master P did not attend.
The trial was expected to last about three weeks.
Miller is one of four brothers who grew up in a violent housing project - far from New Orleans' tourist attractions - while the city's murder rate hovered near the nation's highest. His lyrics depict, often boastfully, a grim world of violence, drugs and crime.
"Papa didn't raise me, mama didn't care for me. A bastard child, no future, no hope. The streets took me in, so I bubble up the dope," he rapped in 2002's "This Or That."
The eldest brother, Kevin, was shot to death in a robbery; he is memorialized on a tattoo on Corey Miller's left shoulder. Master P, founder of the No Limit Records label, is the South's most successful hip-hop impresario.
C-Murder's first recordings came in a trio called TRU, with his brothers (the youngest, Vyshonne, goes by Silkk the Shocker.) They had a 1995 hit "I'm Bout It, Bout It," then two more successful records before C-Murder released the first of his five solo records, "Life Or Death," in 1998, which sold nearly 1 million copies.
Since then, C-Murder's sales have sunk. "C-P-3.com," from 2001, sold 120,000; last year's "Tru Dawgs" sold 95,000.
Miller has a history of trouble with the police, and faces numerous charges besides the second-degree murder count. He was on bail when the Club Platinum shooting occurred, facing an attempted first-degree murder charge for allegedly trying to shoot a Baton Rouge nightclub owner. Police said a fight occurred when the man wanted to check Miller for weapons; the rapper allegedly tried to fire but his gun malfunctioned.
Miller's lyrics and nickname played a central part of jury selection, with defense lawyers quizzing potential jurors on their views about rap and whether they could be impartial toward a murder suspect whose nickname is C-Murder.
One man was dismissed after he described rap as "just about drugs and shooting the cops."
Miller's bond was revoked case after prosecutors accused him of threatening witnesses.
Miller's father, Percy Miller Sr., said Monday that his son is innocent. "This is a lot of stress on the family, but we know he didn't do it," he told The Associated Press outside the courtroom.
He said people should ignore the C-Murder image: a gangster who boasts about his life of crime and violence.
"He's a rapper," the father said. "That's just a character he's playing."
Master P's representatives did not return calls for comment. But in a January, 2002, interview he said he was praying for his brother.
"Everyone has a black sheep in the family that's done something wrong," Master P said. "We're definitely praying for him, hoping that this teaches him a lesson."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
