Meek Mill Files Appeal Petition Over Cop’s Alleged False Testimony
Meek Mill’s legal team filed a new petition today requesting the rapper’s release from jail on bond, Billboard reports. The Post-Conviction Relief Act petition is targeting the credibility of a police officer involved in Mill’s 2007 arrest on drug and gun charges. Officer Reginald Graham was among the list of “suspect police” in a recent investigative report from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The report claimed that the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office kept a secret list of police officers who reportedly could not be considered credible witnesses in court.
In addition to referencing the Inquirer’s report, Meek’s lawyers cited sworn affidavits from two former Philadelphia police officers who question Graham’s credibility. Jerold Gibson claimed he was present for the 2007 arrest and contradicted many points made by Graham during Mill’s trial. He disputed Graham’s claims that Mill pointed a gun at anyone, that officers were forced to yell “drop the gun,” and that Meek attempted to flee.
The second officer, Jeffrey Walker, detailed multiple experiences with Graham before and after Mill’s arrest. Walker claimed that Graham fabricated the probable cause for search warrants, lied about the justification for warrantless searches, and misused confidential informants. Walker said that the preliminary arrest report filed by Graham for Mill’s case “bears the hallmarks of a fraudulent affidavit, written to manufacture probable cause for the search warrant.”
If charges aren’t withdrawn or dismissed voluntarily, Mill’s attorneys are seeking a new trial. Pitchfork has reached out to Mill’s legal team for further comment.
Mill, born Robert Rihmeek Williams, was sentenced to 2-4 year in November for violating his probation. In November, Mill’s lawyers filed a motion to appeal his sentence, a second motion for the modification of his bail, and lastly an emergency bail motion. The judge who originally sentenced Mill, Judge Genece Brinkley, denied his bail petition. Mill previously requested that Brinkley be recused due to bias.
