TONY YAYO - YAYO SEEKS TO HAVE ASSAULT CHARGES DROPPED

YAYO SEEKS TO HAVE ASSAULT CHARGES DROPPED

TONY YAYO's lawyer is appealing to have the rapper cleared of the alleged assault of a teenager after another man confessed to the crime. The G-Unit member, real name Marvin Bernard, has been accused of smacking 14-year-old James Rosemond - son of Jimmy 'Henchman' Rosemond, head of rival hip-hop company Czar Entertainment - in a New York City street in March (07). But Bernard has always protested his innocence in the case, and could now have the charges of misdemeanour assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child dropped after his associate Lowell Fletcher admitted his guilt. Fletcher made the confession to police during questioning for an unrelated issue, and the information was released in court by Assistant District Attorney Daryl Reed on Thursday (10Jan08). According to the police statement, "Fletcher saw a young boy wearing a Czar Entertainment T-shirt. Fletcher further stated that he slapped the boy across the face and began to grab the boy's shirt. At this point Marvin Bernard (Yayo) exited the vehicle, tried to restrain him (Fletcher) and get him back in the vehicle." Fletcher's lawyer, Robert MACedonio, says, "Although the statement is harmful to my client, it seems that Tony Yayo really didn't do anything but pull him (Fletcher) off this kid." And Bernard's attorney, Scott Leemon, is grateful for the news, adding, "They disclosed it today, and we plan to file a motion for dismissal." Both Bernard and Fletcher - who is currently serving time for drug possession - are due to stand trial on 31 March (08), but it is now unlikely to go ahead.