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In October, Anthony “Harv” Ellison was convicted of kidnapping Tekashi 6ix9ine, the New York rapper who testified against Ellison and Aljermiah "Nuke" Mack, both members of the Nine Trey Bloods. Today, Complex reports that Ellison's attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial, and have claimed in their petition that 6ix9ine's longstanding beef with Trippie Redd was staged for publicity.
During his testimony, 6ix9ine spoke about a confrontation with Trippie Redd at a Manhattan hotel. 6ix9ine testified that he and a group including Ellison attacked Trippie Redd and his entourage after Redd's manager sent him the address of the hotel in order to end the beef. However, Ellison's attorneys Deveraux Cannick and Calvin Scholar write in their petition that the incident at the hotel was a "staged publicity event." Read an excerpt of the filing below:
During trial, the government elicited testimony that Mr. Ellison was first hired as security after coming to the defense of Mr. Hernandez during a staged publicity "beef" between Hernandez and a rapper named Trippie Redd. The evidence was more than sufficient to establish that the "beef" between Hernandez and Redd was a publicity stunt. The two rappers made songs about one another. Moreover, Redd’s own manager sent Redd’s location to Hernandez ostensibly so that there could be some type of staged confrontation... After coming to Hernandez’ defense at the staged publicity event, Mr. Ellison became Hernandez’ bodyguard and part of Hernandez’ entourage.
Ellison has protested his kidnapping conviction, claiming that this event was also staged by 6ix9ine.
