Mystical Rape Trial Delayed

Last year rapper Mystikal was arrested and charged with raping an acquaintance at his home in Louisiana [click here if you missed that].

Now Mystikal's trial has been delayed and the rapper remains in custody...

From The Advocate

A New Orleans-born rapper facing rape and other charges in Ascension Parish won't go to trial next month as planned and remained in jail Tuesday without bail or a new trial date.

The new defense attorney for Mystikal asked a state district judge last week to continue her client's jury trial that had been set to start June 21, court papers say.

The attorney, Tiffany Myles Crosby, told the judge she needed time "to become abreast of all pertinent issues in this matter in order to provide efficient representation."

Mystikal, whose given name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, has been accused of a violent attack and rape of a woman in his Prairieville home in late July.

Tyler, 52, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree rape, robbery, false imprisonment and other criminal counts. Conviction on the rape charge alone would bring life imprisonment.

Crosby asked for the continuance without a new trial date. Prosecutors in Ascension did not oppose the delay, court papers say.

Judge Steven Tureau of the 23rd Judicial District Court granted the trial continuance the same day it was sought, on April 18. Tyler is next scheduled to appear in court in Gonzales on Aug. 21.

Fun Facts: Mystical served six years in prison for raping his former assistant in 2003 [click here if you missed that] and was accused of raping a fan in 2020 in charges that were later dismissed [click here if you missed that].