Pras Michel requested a retrial in connection with his conspiracy case after noting that his former legal team used artificial intelligence to offer a closing statement on the matter before his sentencing in 2023. A federal judge has since ruled that Pras Michel will not receive a retrial, despite findings that mistakes were made.
As reported by The Haitian TimesUS District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled on August 30 that Pras Michel's request for a retrial will not proceed. In 2023, Michel was convicted of multiple charges and tried to get a new trial due to his former attorney, David Kenner, who used AI to write a closing statement, but later discovered the mistakes the program made. One of those errors includes a misattribution of Michel's lyrics given to Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In the filing filed by Michel's attorneys, the rapper's legal team revealed 14 mistakes made during Michel's tenure with the court, prompting the filing of the motion for retrial. The legal team further argued that the jury overseeing the case was swayed by statements from two federal judges who named Michel as a co-conspirator in the crimes he was charged with.
The judge in the case noted the errors raised by Michel's team and three of them were addressed according to the accounts. However, the judge ruled that the issues raised were not enough to overturn the original jury verdict.
Pras Michel faces a possible sentence of 20 years in prison. He is currently free on bail. His sentencing date has not been announced.
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