NEWS: Lil' Wayne Appears In Court Over Gun Charge, Officer Testifies

Written By Janelle Griffith

New Orleans rapper Lil’ Wayne was in court earlier today at a pre-trial hearing pertaining to a weapons charge he picked up following a concert date last year.

According to the Associated Press, New York police officer Diane Hornung testified that on July 22nd of last year she boarded Weezy’s tour bus after identifying marijuana smoke coming from its open door. While on the bus she claims to have seen the rapper (born Dwayne Carter) sitting on a bed and trying to conceal a bag which she said held a loaded .40 caliber handgun. The rapper had just finished performing at a concert at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre.

Wayne’s lawyer, Stacey Richman told the AP, her client’s bus was boarded unlawfully.

As SOHH previously reported, Weezy missed his court date last month, citing a dental condition that had prevented him from boarding a plane from Miami to New York.

Weezy pleaded not guilty to the charges. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Ja Rule, who also appeared at the concert, was arrested on the same night in an unrelated incident after his vehicle was caught speeding. The Queens-bred rapper was charged with possessing a .40 caliber pistol as well.

In related news, Weezy took home an MTV Video Music Award last night for “Best Hip-Hop Video” for “Lollipop,” beating out Kanye West, T.I. and Mary J. Blige.

[For more on your favorite rappers from the South peep SOHH Soulful]