Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel’s Next Hearing Is June 25
It's been 126 days—just over four months—since Bobby Shmurda, Rowdy Rebel and GS9 were arrested and indicted on more than 100 assorted counts including conspiracy, murder, assault, drug and weapons charges related to a nearly two-year NYPD investigation. Since then, fans have heard from Shmurda and Rebel a handful of times—mostly via phone calls to radio station Hot 97—but the two, as well as the majority of the 13 members of GS9 who were arrested along with them, still remain behind bars on $2 million bail apiece. Today, the duo got the first small indication since their first court date Jan. 29 that, one way or the other, their case was fully moving forward.
In a hearing today at Manhattan Supreme Court, both Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel were given a June 25 hearing to begin their trial. Because there isn't a court room with enough space to accommodate all of the defendants named in the indictment, the group is likely to be split into four or five smaller groups, with both Shmurda and Rebel's lawyers—Kenneth Montgomery and Javier Solano, respectively—requesting that Judge James Burke and the District Attorney's office place their clients in the first group in order to expedite the trial where possible.
Shortly before 11:30 this morning, Bobby Shmurda, real name Ackquille Pollard, was brought into the same courtroom that housed his initial hearing in January, wearing an orange Department of Justice jumpsuit and hands cuffed behind his back. As was the case during the first hearing, Shmurda seemed resigned, not making much if any eye contact with the 40 or so people in attendance. His attorney Montgomery requested the paperwork from Shmurda's 2014 Brooklyn gun charge, which was dropped following the indictment last December, but otherwise kept the hearing brief.
Rowdy Rebel, real name Chad Marshall, was in higher spirits when he was escorted into the courtroom just prior to Shmurda, smiling and mouthing words to a few members of the audience as the hearing took place. Solano requested that the DA's office deliver the statement that was made to police that, along with surveillance video, led to Rowdy's attempted murder charge, while stressing that he would like the case to continue as swiftly as possible.
Both are still being held at Riker's Island on $2 million bail.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom following the hearing, Montgomery explained that this court date was all about clearing up legal issues and discovery obligations as both sides began acquiring and sifting through the evidence. "This is a show and [the prosecutors] have to justify the show," Montgomery said. "At the trial we'll see what this is really about."
For now, there isn't much more to do but wait. Shmurda and Rebel will remain in jail until the trial begins or until either can produce the $2 million bail the State has hit them with. Yesterday, speaking over the phone with XXL, Montgomery said that there was no chance that bail would be reduced while Judge Burke presided over the case (Burke mentioned in court today that he was likely to handle the trial as well).
"What I would want is some reasonableness to take place and that this young man can be given a reasonable bail and get out," Montgomery told XXL. "But I know what we’re up against. We’re not up against reason. We’re up against the rule of law."
For more information on Bobby Shmurda, Rowdy Rebel and GS9's indictment, check out our full, detailed breakdown of the case right here, as well as our recap of the 32 additional charges brought by the State in January right here.
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