Rapper Ja Rule, 33, appeared in New York City court yesterday (January 20) in an attempt to suppress evidence in his weapons-possessions case, but Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Carruthers disagreed with his attorney's arguments and refused to throw it out.
The case stems from an arrest following a police stop after a July 2007 concert. After a full search of the car police found an unlicensed loaded .40 cal pistol and a small amount of marijuana. While in court yesterday, Ja Rule's attorneys argued that the search of the rapper's Maybach was unjustified, but prosecuted pointed out that the car had no insurance and a suspended registration.
The hearing was not a complete lost, however as the judge did dismiss Ja's statement to the police regarding the marijuana in his pocket. Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, has pleaded not guilty to the weapons-possession charge, which carries a minimum sentence of 3,5 years in prison.
According to the New York Post, following the hearing, Ja Rule's defense lawyer Stacey Richman said, "We disagree with the decision, but we'll tend to other issues now."
Those others issues include trying to discredit the methodology investigators used to match an extremely small amount of DNA retrieved from the gun to Ja Rule. He will remain free on bail until his next court date on March 3.
