It appears Meek Mill is one step closer to an early prison release.
On Wednesday, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office submitted a filing that declared it would not oppose the rapper’s immediate release on bail. The decision was based on evidence provided by Meek’s legal team that questioned the credibility of Reginald V. Graham, the officer who arrested Meek in 2007 and the only witness to testify at Meek’s 2008 trial.
As previously reported, the Philadelphia D.A.’s Office was discovered to have kept a “secret list” of city officers with a history of lying, racial bias, and/or brutality. Graham was included on the list, which is why many people, including Meek, have challenged the veracity of his testimony.
Ex-narcotics officer Jeffrey Walker testified against Graham, his former partner, in 2016: “I would steal with Reggie Graham,” said Walker, who was previously sentenced to two years in prison for police corruption. “There was stealing in that whole squad, but these are the people I was basically breaking bread with.”
Walker’s depositions along with the D.A.’s “secret list” were underscored in Meek’s Post-Conviction Relief Act petition, which sought to have Graham’s testimony thrown out. Weeks after the PCRA filing, the city announced a big win for Meek.
The D.A.’s filing reads in part: “In support of his claim, Petitioner has submitted 2 affidavits from other officers alleging that Officer Graham repeatedly engaged in misconduct, including lying, both in general and specifically in Petitioner’s case […] in light of the history of hundreds of convictions already having been reversed based on information provided by Officer Walker, there is a strong showing of likelihood of Petitioner’s conviction being reversed (in whole or in part).”
Meek’s mother, Kathy Williams, said the news was a blessing.
“I would like to thank the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office for carefully evaluating my son’s matter and not opposing the request for bail,” she said in a statement. “The fact that Robert’s entire conviction could be overturned is a blessing and I pray that God gives Judge Brinkley the wisdom to make the right decision and allow my son to return home to his family. I truly believe justice will prevail.”
The rapper’s attorney Joe Tacopina echoed Williams' sentiment, and said he was confident Meek would be released very soon.
“We are very pleased with the District Attorney’s filing today stating that he is not opposing Meek’s immediate release on bail, and that there is a strong likelihood that Meek’s conviction will ultimately be reversed in whole or in part. We look forward to his immediate release by the court on bail in light of this development.”
Stay tuned for more as the story developments.
