The ongoing trial of Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome, three of the four men accused of being involved in the 2018 murder of rapper XXXTentacion, has brought Canadian rap star Drake into the fold. Drake's attorney recently appeared in court to argue against the subpoena that would force his client to sit down for questioning regarding his alleged connection to the murder. According to a recent order signed by Judge Michael Usan, Drake must comply with the subpoena or face possible consequences.
Drake's attorney argued that the subpoena affidavit was not filed properly, and that the order to show cause was not appropriate given the lack of foundation in the petition. While Dedrick Williams' defense lawyer, Mauricio Padilla, believes Drake should be deposed as part of his client's due process, Drake's lawyer has noted that he would again fight the deposition as it is inconsequential to the case.
Judge Usan urged for the deposition to take place, despite his initial reservations, stating that the deposition would ensure the due process rights of the defendant and that the full discovery would take place, exploring every avenue to ensure that nothing was left untouched. He suggested that the deposition should remain sealed and not be released to the public.
Padilla has provided evidence that Drake is involved in the killing of XXXTentacion, citing a cryptic tweet posted on XXX's social media months before his death that read, "If anyone tries to kill me it was [Drake]." He also noted the two rappers' beef over X accusing Drake of biting his flow and Drake song lyrics, which Padilla claims feature Drake subliminally addressing XXXTentacion's death.
The court appearance by Drake's lawyer came a day after he filed a court motion asking to quash the subpoena. He stated that it was unreasonable and oppressive to subpoena an out-of-state party who has not been mentioned in any reports or investigation related to the case.
Drake is now scheduled to be deposed on Feb. 24 via Zoom, according to a new court filing. Boatwright, Williams, and Newsome have been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection to the killing of XXXTentacion. They face life in prison if convicted. Robert Allen, the fourth suspect, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last summer and testified in the trial last week, confessing to his and the other three men's involvement in the robbery and murder.
While the case continues, it remains to be seen what implications, if any, Drake's deposition will have on the outcome of the trial. As more information becomes available, it is likely that the public will be closely following the proceedings.
