Nipsey Hussle Murder Trial Continues Despite Delay

Both Sides Rest Their Cases in Trial of Rapper’s Killer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a day’s delay due to an assault on the defendant by fellow jail inmates, both sides in the trial of a man charged with the killing of rapper Nipsey Hussle rested their cases on Wednesday.

Defendant Faces First-Degree Murder and Attempted Murder Charges

The trial of Eric Ronald Holder Jr., who is charged with first-degree murder in Hussle’s killing and attempted murder of two other men struck by gunfire, continues with closing arguments set to begin Thursday.

Defendant Appears in Court with Injuries

Holder appeared in court on Wednesday with swollen eyes and staples closing a wound in the back of his head, which was caused by a beating by two inmates while he was in a holding cell.

Seriousness of “Snitching” Allegations Discussed

During the trial, a private investigator and gang expert testified about the seriousness of “snitching” allegations that the prosecution says were the motive for the shooting. The investigator, Robert Freeman, stated that in the neighborhood, everybody knows the consequences of being labeled a snitch.

Previous Witness Testimony Recalled

Previous witnesses testified that on March 31, 2019, Hussle told Holder there were rumors of “paperwork” suggesting he’d been informing to authorities, and that Holder needed to address it. Holder returned about 10 minutes later and shot Hussle.

Cross-Examination Raises Questions

In his cross-examination of Freeman, Deputy District Attorney John McKinney got him to acknowledge that conversations about acting as an informant are not unusual, and that while beatings over them are frequent, killings over them are very rare.

Issue of “Snitching” Overshadows Case

The issue of “snitching” has hung over the entire case, not only as the alleged motive but in the reluctance to testify of prosecution witnesses. One of those witnesses, Hussle’s friend and shooting eyewitness Evan “Rimpau” MacKenzie, failed to appear despite a subpoena and a bench warrant.

Closing Arguments Scheduled for Thursday

The case is set to conclude with closing arguments scheduled for Thursday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the alleged motive for the shooting?

A: The prosecution says the alleged motive was Holder’s anger and fear that Hussle was going to become an informant.

Q: Who is Eric Holder Jr.?

A: Eric Ronald Holder Jr. is the defendant in the Nipsey Hussle murder trial, charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder of two other men.

Q: What was Nipsey Hussle’s relationship with Holder?

A: Both Hussle and Holder grew up in the same South Los Angeles neighborhood and had ties to the same gang, the Rollin’ 60s.

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: @andyjamesdalton

(Defendant Eric Holder listens during opening statements in his murder trial, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles.)

This story has been corrected to show that two other men struck by gunfire did not die.