REMY MA - REMY MA'S ALLEGED VICTIM TESTIFIES

REMY MA'S ALLEGED VICTIM TESTIFIES

REMY MA's alleged assault victim told New York Superior Court on Friday (14Mar08) the rapper shot her in the stomach after a money row escalated into violence. The hip-hop star - real name Remy Smith - is accused of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, gang assault and witness intimidation in relation to the shooting of 23-year-old Makeda Barnes-Joseph outside a New York nightclub last July (07). During her testimony on Friday, Barnes-Joseph claimed Smith opened fire on her because she refused to open her purse to prove she hadn't stolen $2,000 (GBP1,000) from the MC. Barnes-Joseph said Smith demanded she dump the contents of her handbag - and pulled out a gun when she refused. She told the court, "When she did that, I knew she was trying to make a scene. I knew I didn't have her money so it didn't bother me." When Smith attempted to snatch the bag from her, the two began to tussle, according to Barnes-Joseph, before the rapper shot her in the abdomen. Smith has pleaded not guilty to all charges but faces up to 25 years in jail if she's convicted. The trial continues.