Lawyer for Nicki Minaj’s Brother Files Petition to Get Child Rape Conviction Tossed

Nicki Minaj's brother, Jelani Maraj, faces up to life in prison for the rape of his stepdaughter but the 39-year-old's lawyer wants the conviction tossed.

According to a report from Page Six, Maraj's sentencing on Tuesday (Feb. 21) was put off for another month after his attorney filed a petition. A Nassau County Supreme Court Judge has yet to rule on the motion to vacate the guilty verdict.

Minaj's brother was found guilty of predatory sexual assault and acting in a manner injurious to a child on Nov. 9, 2017. The child, who was 11 years old at the time, is the daughter of Maraj's then-wife, Jacqueline Robinson.

Police say they found Maraj's semen on the girl's pajamas, but according to the defense, the girl and her mother planted the evidence. Maraj's lawyers also argued that the mother and daughter tried to extort Maraj and Minaj for $25 million and claimed that allegations such as Maraj coaching the girl on how to make anal sex less painful while he raped her were also made up.

Reports claimed Minaj was going to testify on behalf of her brother but the rapper never took the stand. It was later reported that Minaj had not had a close relationship with Maraj since he was first charged with rape.

In related news, Nicki has taken a break from social media to focus on her new album. The "No Frauds" rapper is reportedly working on the follow-up to her 2014 project, The Pinkprint.

See Photos of Nicki Minaj's Different Looks Over the Years