Opening statements were made on the first day of Nipsey Hussle's murder trial on Wednesday (June 15), with Deputy District Attorney John McKinney describing the differences between Nipsey and his accused murderer, Eric Holder.
McKinney told the court, "The defendant in this case was also an aspiring rapper – not nearly as successful, not nearly as respected and the two didn’t really have a lot in common. They were two men whose arcs in life were bending in two different directions. The one thing they did have in common was their roots."
McKinney added that there's "no doubt" that Holder planned to kill Nipsey, and he went on to address a conversation Nipsey had with Holder about rumors he heard about Eric being a snitch. Nipsey's close friend Herman "Cowboy" Douglas was called to speak about overhearing the conversation between the two men, and he explained that he never heard Nipsey use the word "snitch" when speaking to Holder. Douglas spoke about Nipsey, stating, "He was saying 'I heard there was some paperwork floating around.'" Douglas added that Nipsey told Holder, "I haven't seen (the paperwork.) You need to take care of that." Douglas then revealed that Holder told Nipsey, "You be hating on me."
McKinney went on to claim that the talk "moved Eric Holder to a point of wanting to return to the parking lot and kill Nipsey Hussle." McKinney stated that Holder returned to the parking lot, shot Nipsey 10 times, and kicked him in the head, stating, "You're through." Nipsey allegedly told Holder, "You got me." Holder then got in the car with Bryannita Nicholson, telling her to "drive before I slap you," following the shooting. Nicholson is expected to testify as a key witness in the trial, which will last two more weeks.
Holder's attorney, Aaron Jansen, said that Holder killing Nipsey was not premeditated, nor was the wounding of two other men in the incident. Jansen added that this is a case of "heated passion" and that Holder didn't have time to cool off following his conversation with Nipsey. Holder is facing one count of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
