Nicki Minaj may testify in brother’s child rape trial
According to Nicki Minaj’s brother’s attorney, the family of the child allegedly abused by Jelani Maraj, attempted to extort millions from the famous rapper.
Prosecutors, however, maintain that they have the evidence to prove that Maraj, 38, groomed and abused the girl for several months.
Maraj’s trial started on Thursday with his lawyer, David Schwartz telling jurors that the whole case was nothing more than a scheme to make money off of Nicki Minaj.
— Jury selection begins in Nicki Minaj’s brother’s rape trial —
Her brother was arrested in 2015 and has been charged with predatory sexual assault against a child, sexual misconduct against a child in the first and second degrees and endangering the welfare of a child. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The alleged victim, who was in the sixth grade at the time, claims he sexually abused her repeatedly.
The girl is now 14 and prosecutors say that DNA and forensic evidence corroborates the story of the girl and her little brother.
Schwartz claims it’s all lies. “The victim’s family tried to shake her [Minaj] down for $25 million,” he alleges to PEOPLE magazine. “It was all part of a plot. They made up these lies. They wanted to make [the charges] go away for $25 million.”
He also says that Minaj is on his witness list and might be called on to testify at trial.
