Victim's Lawyer: 'Remy Ma Needs To Face The Consequences'

The hip-hop star - real name Remy Smith - faces up to 25 years in jail after she was convicted of shooting Makeda Barnes-Joseph outside a New York nightclub last year (07).

Ma, who is due to be sentenced in New York on 23 April (08), has appealed to her devotees to write in to the judge, describing how her music has "positively affected you, influenced you, inspired you, etc... in hopes (sic) that the judge will be lenient".

But the MySpace.com petition has infuriated Barnes-Joseph and her attorney Lauren P. Raysor, who insist Ma needs to accept "responsibility" for her actions and face the consequences.

Raysor has also accused Ma of insulting other people whose lives have been seriously affected by "violent crimes", by portraying herself as the victim in her case.

Raysor says, "A jury of her peers found Remy Ma guilty based on overwhelming evidence. It is time for Remy Ma to take responsibility, to stop thinking she is the real victim, and to stop sending the wrong message to her fans.

"Remy Ma's online petition is a slap in the face of thousands of victims of violent crimes.

"Ms. Barnes-Joseph is truly lucky to be alive. Until Remy Ma demonstrates her willingness to take responsibility for her actions and show remorse, such plea for leniency is unacceptable."