The trial of Nipsey Hussle’s alleged killer has been pushed back — again — after the judge recently retired.
According to the New York Daily News, on Thursday (Jan. 21), Eric Holder, who is accused of fatally shooting the Victory Lap emcee back in March 2019, appeared in court and agreed to have the start of his murder trial pushed back to Feb. 24. Robert J. Perry, the judge who was originally presiding over the trial, retired. “His attorney discussed it with him, and [Holder] agreed to put it over,” a source told the outlet. “The next hearing will be a 0 of 30, meaning the earliest the trial could happen is 30 days from that date.”
According to prosecutors, Holder shot Hussle in the torso and head while he was outside of his Marathon Clothing Store in Los Angeles.
Back in May, Holder’s trial was postponed because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. All of the Los Angeles County Clerk offices and courtrooms in Southern California were closed due to the deadly virus. At the time, Judge Perry reminded the defendant of his right to a speedy trial. “Mr. Holder, as you know, this is an important case and a serious case,” Perry said. “These cases take time to get ready for trial.”
In December, the trial was pushed back a second time due to COVID-19. Judge Perry said that it would be postponed for an additional three months. “I really don’t know how we can realistically expect to see this case go to trial anytime in the next 90 days or more,” the judge said. “Mr. Holder, I don’t know what to tell you except that the court system and this county are plagued by a sickness that we call the COVID virus, and the court system has been very much impacted.”
It is unclear who will preside over the high-profile case.