The attorney representing dancehall artiste Chronic Law is advancing an aggressive push to dismantle the case against him.
This time, Ana Davide is asking the courts to stop the government from bringing any witnes to testify to the entertainer’s alleged gang activity, lyrics in his songs and a stolen gun.
Davide is arguing that any evidence of prior or current gang involvement or activity will only serve to prejudice the jury against Chronic Law.
The attorney is arguing that gang activity has no bearing on the crime of possession of a firearm by an alien, of which the entertainer is charged.
Davide is making a similar argument regarding the lyrics in Chronic Law’s music.
In his initial court appearance, it was argued, among other things, that the violent and threatening nature of his music makes him a danger to the community.
Davide is arguing that allowing that evidence at trial will prejudice the jury against her client.
Meanwhile, Davide is also claiming evidence that one of the four guns seized in the car he was driving at the time was stolen has no bearing on the charge her client is facing.
The attorney is again requesting an evidentiary hearing from the court to ventilate the issues.
The motion filed on Wednesday is the third in a series of legal challenges Davide is stacking, in an attempt to gut the prosecution’s case against Chronic Law.
Davide has already asked the court to suppress the guns found in the car Chronic Law was driving, arguing the evidence was found during an illegal search.
She’s also asking the court to dismiss statements from FBI Special Agent Andrew Nelson in which she admitted Chronic Law incriminated himself.
Davide is arguing those statements violated her client’s constitutional protections against self incrimination.
Testimony provided by Special Agent Nelson is a major target of Davide’s latest move to get evidence tossed.
It was Special Agent Nelson who told the court in Chronic Law’s first hearing that he is engaged in a gang feud with another dancehall artiste, Malie Donn.
He also provided testimony as to the violent and threatening nature of the lyrics of the entertainer’s music.
The lawman’s testimony formed part of the basis for Chronic Law’s bail application being denied.
The entertainer, whose given name is Ackeme Jermane Campbell, is facing up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
He was arrested in a traffic stop in Turner County, Georgia, in November last year. During the stop, police reportedly found four guns in the vehicle, including one which was reported stolen in Florida, along with 92 rounds of ammunition.
He was denied bail twice, and will remain in custody until the start of his trial in January.
Neither the court, nor prosecutors have formally responded to any of the three motions to have evidence in the case dismissed.