Nipsey Hussle’s alleged murderer was unable to attend his trial on Tuesday, reportedly due to injuries he suffered from being physically assaulted in jail.
Rolling Stone writes that Eric Holder, 32, a Rollin’ 60s gang member accused of fatally shooting Nipsey outside a South Los Angeles shopping center on March 31, 2019, was attacked sometime after leaving a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday afternoon. A source told the magazine Holder “suffered more than a black eye,” although the extent of his injuries have not yet been confirmed.
“Based on some unforeseen circumstances that are no fault of parties here, we won’t be in session today,” the judge told the court. Defense lawyer Aaron Jansen added that the delay was related to something “medical.”
Holder, who was indicted on one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, if convicted, faces life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jansen, in his opening statement earlier this month, alleged Holder was under the assumption that Hussle accused him of “snitching,” which the defense lawyer called “a grave sin in gang culture.”
“This is a case about the heat of passion,” Jansen told jurors. The lawyer went on to claim that the alleged remark made Holder “so enflamed and enraged” that he opened fire on Nipsey “a mere nine minutes later” before he could regain his composure.
Court is expected to resume on Wednesday, with Holder’s defense scheduled to include two witnesses. Closing arguments could then proceed Thursday.