Manhattan prosecutors said yesterday they want to swab the cheeks of rapper Ja Rule to see if his DNA matches a sample they've found on a .40-caliber Taurus handgun seized from his Mercedes Maybach on the Upper West Side last year...
The DNA was recovered from the butt of the loaded, unlicensed weapon - an unusual forensic circumstance prosecutors hope will pin possession definitively on the rapper or either of his co-defendants, driver Mohamed Gamal and passenger Dennis Cherry. Ja Rule and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday, and are fighting the swab request.
The DNA was recovered from the butt of the loaded, unlicensed weapon - an unusual forensic circumstance prosecutors hope will pin possession definitively on the rapper or either of his co-defendants, driver Mohamed Gamal and passenger Dennis Cherry. Ja Rule and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday, and are fighting the swab request.
It has also been ruled that Ja's co-defendants in his gun possession case must pay their own bail, revoking prior arrangements made by Ja Rule. Ja posted Gamal and Cherry's combined $170,000 bond, as well as his own $150,000 bond, using his $3.5 million Saddle River, NJ home as collateral. Attorney Stacey Richman, who represents all three men, said the defense would make other arrangements for Gamal and Cherry's bail.Richman also represents Lil' Wayne, who was arrested on similar charges an hour after Ja Rule, and pleaded not guilty in his case on Monday (Feb 25).
