Update:
Nicki Minaj will not take the stand in brother's child rape trial. Sources close to Minaj told TMZ that she won't be involved at all (in regards to Jelani Maraj's case.) TMZ also learned that Minaj never planned to testify, claiming her brother's legal team issued false reports of her being on the witness list.
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Nicki Minaj has faced some backlash due to her brother, Jelani Maraj's case and now she will testify in his defense. A lawyer for Maraj confirmed the news to Pitchfork on Thursday (Oct. 19)
Maraj was arrested in December 2015 after being accused of raping a 12-year-old multiple times. He was indicted in April of 2016 and is facing charges of felony predatory sexual assault against a child, felony sexual conduct against a child under age 13, sexual conduct against a child, and endangering the welfare of a child.
He maintains his innocence, and his lawyer says Maraj intends to make the argument that the alleged victim and her mother tried to "shakedown" his sister for a staggering $25 million "to make the charges go away." Maraj rejected a plea deal of 15 years to life and will now stand trial in Nassau County, New York where a jury will decide his fate.
“He is choosing to go to trial because he is not guilty of these allegations and has faith in our system of justice,” Maraj’s lawyer David Schwartz, said at the time.
If found guilty, Maraj could face up to life in prison.
Source: hiphopdx.com
