Lil’ Kim took the stand today (March 10) in her federal trial for allegedly
lying to a federal grand jury about a 2001 shootout in front of Hot 97 in New
York.
Kim portrayed the two gunmen,
former manager Damien “D-Rock” Butler and associate Suif “Gutta”
Jackson as greedy thieves who could not be trusted, while attempting to prove
she had no motive to protect either man.
“I was a victim,”
Kim testified. "I couldn’t believe I was being badgered the way I was.”
On Thursday, Kim again revealed
that she did not recall seeing Butler on the day of the shooting. She said before
she knew it, bullets were flying and she was pulled into her limo.
Kim admitted that she had
broken off her relationship with both men at least two years before the shooting
took place.
“They were taking
advantage of me, they were stealing from me," Kim testified. "It was
having a major effect on my career. I just didn’t want a bunch of negativity
around me."
Prosecutors charge Lil’
Kim and her assistant with lying to a federal grand jury when quizzed about
the shootout, after being granted full immunity from prosecution.
Statements from other witnesses,
including Lil’ Cease and Capone, have described a chaotic scene, with
bullets flying everywhere.
At least 30 bullets were
fired from six different guns.
"Definitely very traumatic,"
Kim said of the shootout. "I was shaken by it. I couldn’t believe it was
happening at that very moment."
While Kim originally denied
knowing the suspects, prosecutors produced surveillance footage of Kim jumping
into her limo with some of the suspects.
Both Butler and Jackson
testified during the trial and admitted to having a lengthy relationship with
the platinum selling rapper.
The entire incident started
as Lil’ Kim’s entourage was leaving Hot 97’s offices as Capone-N-Noreaga’s
group members were entering.
Kim’s entourage took
offense to various insults hurled at Lil’ Kim on “Bang, Bang,”
by Foxy Brown, who made a guest appearance on the song.
The shooting left an associate
of Capone-N-Noreaga with a gunshot wound to the upper back.
Jackson was sentenced to
12 years for the shooting, while Butler is awaiting sentencing.
If convicted, Lil’
Kim faces 30 years behind bars.