Tag: Court Appearances

Categories
Court Appearances King Charles III royals

King Charles visited the High Court one day before Harry’s Mirror case judgment

king-charles-visited-the-high-court-one-day-before-harry’s-mirror-case-judgment

As we discussed recently, the fix is in regarding Prince Harry’s lawsuits over royal protection when he’s in the UK. Harry is suing the government over his right to have and pay for police protection, and he’s also suing the Mail over their really grotesque coverage of the protection issue. Harry is going to lose his battle against the Home Office – even if he scores some small victory (which is unlikely), they still won’t give him protection, nor would they ever let him pay for it. Meanwhile, Harry is also the plaintiff in what feels like a dozen other lawsuits against British media outlets. Today, a judge handed down a ruling on Harry’s lawsuit against the Mirror. So, obviously, Harry’s father had to make a big, splashy visit to the High Court on Thursday, just to make it clear that the fix is absolutely in.

As royal visits go, the High Court has become more used to the sight of the Duke of Sussex than his father, the King. But on Thursday, less than 24 hours before Mr Justice Fancourt was due to hand down his ruling on Prince Harry’s claim against Mirror Group Newspapers, it was His Majesty’s turn to pay a first visit to the Royal Courts of Justice.

Rather than suing newspapers, though, the King was at the court to celebrate the relationship between the judiciary and the Crown, observing that the British justice system was the envy of the world. He also hailed the work of voluntary magistrates, asking: “What would we do without you?”

As he unveiled a plaque marking his visit, he said: “Thank you all enormously for the amount of effort you put into maintaining the system of justice that so many others seem to be envious of, I’ve discovered going around the world. So I cannot thank you enough, particularly the magistrates, the extraordinary work they do, somehow putting in these onerous duties on top of everything else – it is truly remarkable, and a wonderful system. I hope you get a moment or two before you have to rush back and administer justice. And finally, can I just wish you a very happy and I hope relatively peaceful Christmas and I hope you get a moment or two before you have to rush back and administer justice on our behalf.”

[From The Telegraph]

Real question: IS the British legal system the envy of the world? I understand that the American legal system used British law as a template, and many other nations have done so as well. I get the historical significance of that, and maybe a more accurate statement would be: “British law has influenced countless countries, democracies and republics.” But in the year of our lord Beyonce 2023, does anyone really believe that Britain’s system of justice is “the envy of the world”? As I’ve tried to make sense of Britain’s libel and defamation laws, I’m left bewildered by how the powerful press barons have rigged the system to their favor, largely to avoid accountability. This visit was also Exhibit Q of “should the king be cozying up to judges when his son is suing everybody?” It’s not about criminality, it’s about the appearance of criminality. The law should be above reproach, certainly. Except when judges want to hang out with the king and do him special favors.

Watch:

King Charles arrives at the High Court in London. No, he’s not in trouble but there to celebrate the ‘exceptional work” of court staff. The visit coincidentally comes 24hrs before the same court will rule on Harry’s legal case against Mirror Group Newspapers.. pic.twitter.com/FM6CsMie7Q

— Matt Wilkinson (@MattSunRoyal) December 14, 2023

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Categories
Court Appearances Megan Thee Stallion Prison Tory Lanez

Tory Lanez sentenced to ten years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion

tory-lanez-sentenced-to-ten-years-in-prison-for-shooting-megan-thee-stallion

Late last year, just before Christmas, Tory Lanez was convicted of three felonies from the July 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Megan, Tory and several friends had been partying in LA when Tory shot Megan and told her “dance, bitch.” Following the shooting, Tory then engaged in one of the most toxic and public gaslighting campaigns I’ve ever seen, helped along by some of the most disgusting people within the music industry. Megan has really been through it, and Tory’s conviction was a welcome relief. Now Tory has been sentenced to ten years in prison:

Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was found guilty of shooting hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion in the foot after the pair left a Los Angeles party in 2020. The hearing began Monday and wrapped up Tuesday, ending a high-profile case in which Megan, 28, was subjected to what prosecutors called “repeated and grotesque attacks.” It cast a spotlight on the scrutiny Black women face when they report abuse.

A jury convicted Lanez, 31, who pleaded not guilty, of three felony charges in December: assault with a semi-automatic firearm, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Lanez addressed the court before the judge handed down his sentence. He apologized for his actions and said he took full responsibility for the 2020 shooting.

“If I could change it, I would, but I can’t,” he said. “Everything I did that night, I take full responsibility,” he added. “I truly am just trying to be a better person.” Lanez looked surprised but remained quiet after the sentence was announced. The mother of his son burst into tears as she was led out of the courtroom.

Matthew Barhoma, a member of Lanez’s legal team, said appeals for both the sentence and the conviction are planned. The team will also file for bail when it appeals the sentence.

In handing down his sentence, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford said it was “difficult to reconcile” the doting father and committed philanthropist many described with the person who fired a gun five times at Megan.

“Sometimes good people do bad things,” Herriford said. “Actions have consequences, and there are no winners in this case.”

Deputy District Attorney Alex Bott said Lanez called Megan a liar, intimidated her and harassed her. “Not only did the defendant do the heinous act of shooting her; he then subjected her to 2 ½ years of hell,” Bott said after the sentencing.

[From NBC News]

“Sometimes good people do bad things” – are you f–king joking? Tory not only SHOT a woman, he subjected her to years of harassment and a toxic disinformation campaign online and in real life. He paid off her friends to turn on her, he bad-mouthed Megan in the industry and he never, ever took “full responsibility” for any of it. Ten years is too f–king light. Megan said as much in her victim-impact statement to the court – she didn’t appear in court, but she sent her statement, which reads in part:

“I struggle with being present. After everything that occurred I cannot bring myself back to being in the same room with Tory. I’ve been tormented and terrorized. He paid bloggers to disseminate false information, he treated my trauma like a joke when I could’ve been dead. He blamed the system, he blamed the press, and as of late he is using his childhood trauma to justify his actions. Slowly but surely, I’m healing. But I’ll never be the same. His crime warrants the full weight of the law.”

[Via People]

Yes. All of what Megan said. I can’t believe the judge said “Sometimes good people do bad things.” In what f–king world is Tory Lanez a good person?

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.

Categories
Court Appearances Ed Sheeran Lawsuits Music

Ed Sheeran says if he loses his ‘Let’s Get it On’ copyright case he’ll quit music

ed-sheeran-says-if-he-loses-his-‘let’s-get-it-on’-copyright-case-he’ll-quit-music




Ed Sheeran has been sued multiple times for copyright infringement on his hit songs. He’s settled once, won once, and had to retroactively award credit another time. The case for which he is in court currently is for similarities between “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On.” During hearings, Ed was asked by his own lawyer what he would do if the court didn’t find in his favor and Ed said if that happens, he’s done with music, but he didn’t elaborate further.

Trial reconvened Monday as Ed Sheeran spent his fifth day in court, where he is being sued for alleged copyright infringement over his 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud” and expressed his frustrations.

Launched by Structured Asset Sales — who purchased a third of the shares of the song from the family of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote “Let’s Get It On” with Marvin Gaye, in 2018 — the suit alleges that Sheeran’s hit took elements directly from the song.

During the hearing, Sheeran, 32, took the stand and was questioned by his lawyer Ilene Farkas. At one point, he was asked what he would do if the court finds “Thinking Out Loud” to be too similar to “Let’s Get It On.”

“If that happens, I’m done, I’m stopping,” Sheeran said.

“I find it to be really insulting,” he added. “I work really hard to be where I’m at.”

A rep for Sheeran did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for clarification.

Later in the hearing, the “Lego House” singer was questioned by the plaintiff’s lawyer Robert Frank. After offering up some stern responses, Sheeran complained about his line of questioning.

“You’re trying to diminish my success,” he said. “‘Thinking Out Loud’ was my first Grammy.”

Amy Wadge, Sheeran’s co-writer for “Thinking Out Loud” also took the stand and explained to jurors that the song’s tune sounded more like Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately,” as it has the same chords in a different key. She also reflected on how she felt about being accused of copying “Let’s Get It On.”

“It was pretty devastating and pretty frightening because it’s something we did not do,” said Wadge.

[From People]

Ed has said in the past that he now films his songwriting process after the multiple lawsuits. This isn’t a new lawsuit since those comments, but maybe these lawsuits have disheartened him enough that he’s going to step away from music if this one doesn’t go his way. (I also don’t think the co-writer’s comments that “Thinking Out Loud” actually sounds like another song is the defense she thinks it is.) The article characterized him as stern and complaining and the quotes they choose definitely come across that way, but maybe he’s just really down about this. I don’t really know that stepping away from music is the answer? Is his reputation or popularity as an artist taking a huge hit because of this? Anyway, I’ve made clear in the past that I’m no fan of Ed’s, but if he quits doing something he loves because he’s disheartened that makes me feel a bit bad for him. Also, Ed had his docuseries come out and it sheds light on some of his personal issues, like his wife’s cancer diagnosis and the death of his close friend. The weight of those struggles is probably also at play here with the comments about quitting.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos credit: Udo Salters/startraksphoto.com and Getty

Categories
Court Appearances Crime Elizabeth Holmes photos

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to over 11 years in prison for fraud

theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-sentenced-to-over-11-years-in-prison-for-fraud

Embed from Getty Images


Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison after being found guilty in January on four out of 11 counts of defrauding investors. Holmes has been the subject of multiple podcasts, documentaries and dramatizations of her story, most notably the series The Dropout, in which Amanda Seyfried won an Emmy for portraying her. Holmes, 38, is currently pregnant with her second child. She had her first child, son William, with her partner, hotel heir Billy Evans, 29, in July of 2021. It’s been speculated that Holmes’ pregnancies were bids to avoid prison time. She is not scheduled to report to custody until late April, I would assume after she gives birth.

Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison on Friday following her conviction in January for defrauding investors while running the failed blood testing startup Theranos.

Judge Edward Davila imposed a sentence of 11 years and three months in prison, with another three years of supervision after Holmes is released. The sentence also includes a fine of $400, or $100 for each count of fraud. Restitution will be set at a later date. Holmes was ordered to turn herself into custody on April 27, 2023. She is expected to appeal her conviction.

Holmes, who was found guilty in January on four charges of defrauding investors, faced up to 20 years in prison as well as a fine of $250,000 plus restitution for each count.

Lawyers for the government asked for a 15-year prison term, as well as probation and restitution, while Holmes’ probation officer pushed for a nine-year term. Holmes’ defense team asked Davila, who presided over her case, to sentence her to up to 18 months of incarceration followed by probation and community service.

Before the sentencing was announced, a tearful Holmes spoke to the court in San Jose, California. “I loved Theranos. It was my life’s work,” she said. “The people I tried to get involved with Theranos were the people I loved and respected the most. I am devastated by my failings.”


She also apologized to the employees, investors and patients of Theranos. “I’m so, so sorry. I gave everything I had to build our company and to save our company,” she said. “I regret my failings with every cell in my body.”

“The judge imposed a powerful sentence that confirms that fraud cannot masquerade as innovation in Silicon Valley,” said George Demos, a former SEC enforcement attorney and adjunct law professor at UC Davis. “When given the opportunity to speak, Elizabeth Holmes made a statement that she takes responsibility for Theranos but did not say she takes responsibility for the fraud.”

[From CNN]

I listened to the original Dropout podcast and watched The Dropout series and The Inventor documentary on HBO. As I’ve mentioned, I have zero sympathy for Holmes and a lot of respect for the employees who blew the whistle on her fraud and lies. She deserves more than 11 years, her deception harmed a lot of people, not just monetarily. She ran Theranos like a cult with loyalty and secrecy valued above all and no concern for the people whose health and money she was jeopardizing. I give zero sh-ts that she’s pregnant now. Her partner and relatives can raise the baby. Just because other criminals have received less time doesn’t mean that she shouldn’t face consequences. The prison system is cruelly punitive to mothers and that needs to change but this is not the case where an exception should be made.

Holmes’ co-conspirator, Sunny Balwani, has been found guilty in a separate trial of all 12 charges against him. His sentencing is scheduled for December 7.

Embed from Getty Images

Categories
Brittney Griner Court Appearances Legal Issues

Brittney Griner convicted in Russian court of drug smuggling, sentenced to 9 years

brittney-griner-convicted-in-russian-court-of-drug-smuggling,-sentenced-to-9-years

Embed from Getty Images


After a six-month detention and a one-month trial, Brittney Griner was convicted and sentenced to nine years in Russian jail for drug-smuggling. Brittney had pled guilty to the charges, but said there was no intent. The sentence is just under the 10-year maximum. Brittney spoke in court before the verdict, apologized, and asked for leniency, saying that she “never meant to hurt anybody,” it was “an honest mistake,” and she hoped the ruling wouldn’t “end [her] life here.” Her lawyers said they would appeal, that court ignored evidence, and that the average jail time for this is usually five years.

American women’s basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years of jail time Thursday in a case that has raised concerns she is being used as a political pawn in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court delivered the sentence and fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,400. She said the court took into account Griner’s partial admission of guilt, remorse for the deed, state of health and charitable activities. Prosecutors had asked that she be sentenced to 9.5 years in jail.

Prior to the verdict, Griner apologized to the court and asked for leniency in an emotional speech.

“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here,” Griner said. “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that, that is far from this courtroom.

“I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime,” she added.

After the sentence, Griner told a CNN producer as she left court, “I love my family.”

The verdict comes about six months after the 31-year-old was arrested at a Moscow airport and accused by Russian prosecutors of trying to smuggle less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist pleaded guilty to drug charges last month and said she accidentally packed the drugs while in a hurry.

Griner’s lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said in a written statement they will appeal the decision and criticized the court for ignoring their evidence. They have 10 days to appeal…

“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates,” Biden said in a statement.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the Russian legal system more broadly, saying the sentence “puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia’s legal system and the Russian government’s use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns.”

[From CNN]

Most cases like these, in Russia, result in a conviction and jail time. So this verdict was pretty much a foregone conclusion, but disheartening nonetheless. The New York Times described the situation thusly: “Her conviction was thought to be a formality and a prerequisite for a prisoner swap that could lead to her return to the United States.” As the court case was ongoing, the Biden administration offered a “substantial proposal”  to Russia in order to bring home Brittney and another American detainee, Paul Whelan. They were said to be offering a Russian arms dealer in exchange for Brittney and Paul, however negotiations stalled when Russia requested to add a convicted murderer in German custody to the swap. Experts quoted in the NYT are mixed, with some thinking negotiations will ramp up now that Brittney has been sentenced and others thinking that the deal will not take place anytime soon. At this point, the National Security Council has said further public discussion of the negotiations is likely unhelpful for the two American prisoners. Another NYT article has more details on what is possibly coming next for Brittney and what considerations the US may be weighing as they continue to negotiate her and Paul’s release. In the meantime, Brittney is back at the same detention center and her lawyers are hoping to get her in touch with her family next week. Brittney is said to have “won over” some of the guards and other inmates at the detention center. It’s still a completely sh-tty situation, at least she’s not totally isolated in solitude there and her lawyers seem solid.

Embed from Getty Images

Categories
Brittney Griner Court Appearances

Brittney Griner pleads guilty to Russian drug charges, ‘there was no intent’

brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-to-russian-drug-charges,-‘there-was-no-intent’

Embed from Getty Images


Last week, WNBA star Brittney Griner’s trial for cannabis possession began in Moscow. She didn’t speak during the first hearing, except to say that she understood the charges that were brought against her. At some point, she wrote a letter to the White House that was also released last week, and on Wednesday her friends and family held a “Bring BG Home” rally at the Phoenix Mercury arena. On Thursday, Brittney spoke in Russian court, pleading guilty to the drug charges, but said “there was no intent” and requested to give her testimony later.

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to a drugs charge in a Russian court on Thursday but denied she had intentionally broken the law.

“I’d like to plead guilty, your honour. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law,” Griner said, speaking quietly in English which was then translated into Russian for the court.

“I’d like to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare,” she added.

Griner’s lawyers told reporters they were hoping for the most lenient sentencing possible, taking into account “the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport.”

“We, as her defense, explained to her the possible consequences. Brittney stressed that she committed the crime out of carelessness, getting ready to board a plane to Russia in a hurry, not intending to break Russian law,” said Griner’s attorney, Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners law firm.

“We certainly hope this circumstance, in combination with the defence evidence, will be taken into account when passing the sentence, and it will be mild.”

Griner’s legal team said it expected the trial to conclude around the beginning of August: “Brittney sets an example of being brave.”

The White House said Griner’s guilty plea would have no impact on U.S. negotiations to bring her home.

Biden spoke to Griner’s wife on Wednesday, telling her he was working to have the basketball star released “as soon as possible”, the White House said.

Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow attended Griner’s trial and delivered a letter to her from Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

“We will not relent until Brittney, Paul Whelan and all other wrongfully detained Americans are reunited with their loved ones,” he tweeted, referring to former U.S. Marine Whelan who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges.

Russian authorities say there is no basis to consider Griner’s detention illegal and that the case against her is not political despite Moscow’s fraught relations with the United States over the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

Moscow’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday that it was difficult to exchange prisoners with the United States and suggested Washington stop talking about the fate of Griner.

Asked about Ryabkov’s remarks, the State Department said it would not comment on speculation.

The Russian foreign ministry has said Griner could appeal her sentence or apply for clemency once a verdict has been delivered.

[From Reuters]

The next hearing is on July 14. President Biden spoke to Brittany’s wife on Wednesday and sent a letter to Brittney in Moscow via the US Embassy officials who attended her trial. (According to CNN, Brittney and her wife haven’t spoken themselves since she was arrested in February). Brittney’s admission is that the cartridges were hers, but she didn’t intend to break the law and had packed for her Russia trip in a hurry. According to explanations CBS Sports compiled from various experts, pleading guilty and hoping for a lesser sentence is strategic for several reasons: the Russian legal system would not have acquitted her, a defense may have led to retribution of some sort, and a guilty plea is necessary for a potential prisoner swap down the line. Of course Russia is still insisting that Brittney’s arrest/detention is not political and the Deputy Foreign Minister made some vaguely threatening comments about “attempts by the American side to make noise in public [not] help[ing] the practical settlement off issues” and the difficulty of prisoner exchanges with the US. Hopefully the guilty plea strategy works out and there’s a lot going on behind the scenes to ensure Brittney’s safe return.

Embed from Getty Imagescom’,is360: false })});

Embed from Getty Images

Categories
Amber Heard Court Appearances Johnny Depp Lawsuits

Amber Heard & Johnny Depp were both found liable of defamation

amber-heard-&-johnny-depp-were-both-found-liable-of-defamation

Here are some photos of Amber Heard leaving court in Fairfax, Virginia, just after the jury’s verdict came down. Years after Amber Heard divorced Johnny Depp, she wrote a Washington Post op-ed where she “felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out” about domestic abuse. She wrote about how her personal and professional life was affected in the wake of speaking out about being a victim of domestic violence. She never mentioned Depp by name. That op-ed was published in 2018. In 2019, Depp sued her for defamation. Before the American case could proceed, Depp had to deal with the libel lawsuit he brought against the Sun, the British tabloid, which had referred to him as a “wife-beater.” Depp lost the libel suit and the judge found that there was ample evidence that saying or writing “Johnny Depp is a wife-beater” is a statement of fact and not libelous in the least. That was in 2020.

For the past six weeks during the Fairfax trial, Depp and his people have waged a sustained and batsh-t disinformation campaign against Amber. There have been live-streams of the case, TikTokers have been mocking Amber, tweeters have been running around lying in defense of a man with a history of violence, and Deppford Wives have been inserting themselves in every single conversation. Here at Celebitchy, we have not been immune. We’ve been dealing with Depp bots, Depp trolls and truly unwell Depp fans for years and it’s ramped up in recent months. Which is why we’ve opted out of daily coverage of the Fairfax trial (and also why we ignored the day-to-day storylines from the UK libel case). As I said, there’s been a sustained campaign. Someone is bankrolling this. This is not simply an organic surge of Depp-fandom. It never was.

The Fairfax trial was, frankly, deplorable. Depp’s goal was, as ever, to punish Heard. That’s been his goal for years now, to humiliate her, to punish her, to abuse her by any means necessary, to ruin her financially and professionally. And in this case, he won. The jury came back on Wednesday. The jury was not sequestered, by the way. They all had access to those TikToks and the paid Depp pysops campaign being waged like he was trying to steal an election. The jury mostly found in Depp’s favor, no surprise.

A jury has found both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp liable for defamation in their lawsuits against each other. Depp sued Heard, his ex-wife, for defamation over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Though Depp was not named in the article, he claims it cost him lucrative acting roles. Heard countersued her ex-husband for defamation over statements Depp’s attorney made about her abuse claims.

The jury found that Heard defamed Depp in three separate statements in The Washington Post piece, and that Depp defamed Heard with one statement his attorney made.

The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million dollars in punitive damages. The jury awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages and no money for punitive damages.

[From CNN]

This reminds me of the “mutual abuse” argument the Deppford Wives made for about a week. That sure, Depp and Heard had a toxic and abusive relationship but that Heard shouldn’t have done this or that. That’s what this verdict is – it’s the “both sides, but mostly we hate her” verdict. While I believe that this campaign was almost all about an abusive man’s ego and sadism, it obviously has wider repercussions. The worst people in America are already celebrating this as “the end of Me Too” and “the end of Believe Women.” The GOP is celebrating merely because “bitches, right?” All of this is just… contemptible.

.

💕 pic.twitter.com/8vGMHykjkA

— Amber Heard (@realamberheard) June 1, 2022

pic.twitter.com/aSmY4hodN4

— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) June 1, 2022

Here’s what’s next: pic.twitter.com/ivxLY9RXHi

— Madeline Peltz (@peltzmadeline) June 1, 2022

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.