A gangster has been found guilty of three murders after boasting about his violent crimes in graphic rap lyrics.
Ronald “Ra Diggs” Herron was convicted of 23 offences, including racketeering, drug trafficking, and gang-realted killings between 2001 and 2009.
During his trial in New York, prosecutors presented his “gangsta rap” videos as evidence, showing that he had used his lyrics to document his crimes.
The raps included boasts about belonging to the infamous Bloods street gang, firing weapons, and dealing drugs.
Herron’s lawyers claimed the lyrics were not autobiographical, but simply a commentary on crime, violence and drug wars in the inner city.
But following the guilty verdict, US Attorney Loretta Lynch said Herron had used his lyrics to glorify his “criminal lifestyle”.
She said: “He styled himself a rap artist, but the jury’s verdict makes clear who Herron really is, a drug dealing and murderer who sought power through fear and intimidation.”
This is not the first time rap lyrics have been used to help secure a conviction.
The American Civil Liberties Union said there had been 18 cases in the US where they had helped convict defendants.
Source: Mirror
