Daily Reviews » Death

Man Acquitted In Dolla’s Shooting Death

Admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:50:37 +0000

Lawyer for Aubrey Louis Berry argued that his client shot the Atlanta rapper in self-defense.
By Josh Wigler

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Dolla

Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

A Los Angeles jury has acquitted Aubrey Louis Berry of killing up-and-coming Atlanta rapper Dolla during a shooting last year at a crowded L.A. mall, The Associated Press reports. Deputy District Attorney and prosecutor Bobby Grace’s contention that Berry killed Dolla (real name: Roderick Anthony Burton II) as an act of vengeance was rejected by jurors.

Upon the reading of the verdict, Berry hugged his attorney while Burton’s mother, Dayne Robinson, reportedly sobbed: “Oh, please, somebody help me.”

The 21-year-old Dolla was shot and killed last May at the Beverly Center mall in Los Angeles during an assault in broad daylight. Berry was subsequently arrested in connection with the shooting and has remained in prison since. Berry’s attorney, Howard K. Price, made the argument that the shooting was committed in self-defense, a claim disputed by Dolla’s family.

“There are three victims in this case, none of which is Aubrey Berry,” the Burton family’s spokesperson Dennis Byron said in a statement on May 22, 2009. “His claim of self-defense is very colorful, but the fact is that he traveled from Atlanta with a loaded firearm for which he didn’t possess a carry permit for in the state of California and then he assassinates Mr. Burton and attempts to shoot his cousin Will and his friend DJ Shabazz.”

Price argued that Berry felt threatened by Dolla over a previous incident at an Atlanta nightclub.

“If somebody has a reasonable perception that he is in danger of bodily injury or death, he has a right to defend himself,” Price told MTV News last year. “He felt his life was in danger because of the previous altercation and what this guy [Burton] is reputed to be, which is [a member of] the Crips [street gang].”

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Private Practice Exclusive: The Real Story Behind the Heartbreaking Death

Admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 07:08:18 +0000

[Warning: This story contains spoilers from Thursday's Season 3 finale of Private Practice, including which series regular died.]

How do you make the cast of Private Practice cry? Write them a scene in which they…

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Gang Starr’s DJ Premier Comments On Guru’s Death

Admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:10:38 +0000

Premier does not comment on harsh statements directed at him in ‘farewell’ letter reportedly written by MC.
By MTV News staff

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Gang Starr’s Guru and DJ Premier

Photo: Gregg Delman/ MTV.com

In the statement announcing the death of Gang Starr’s Guru on Monday, a letter was included that found the MC directing some harsh words at his longtime partner in the group, DJ Premier. Some have questioned the validity of the letter — claims that Guru’s recent partner, Solar, has refuted.

“I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name, likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this,” the letter reads. “I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ.”

In a statement issued Wednesday (April 21) on a DJ Premier fan blog that his manager had earlier told MTV News is legitimate, the Gang Starr DJ chose not to address the comments in the letter and instead remember his longtime collaborator.

“It was a sad day for me to get confirmation on the death of a man who I will continue to call my brother, Keith Elam, better known as Guru of the legendary Gang Starr,” the statement reads. “From 1988-2004, we experienced so much success together that we were able to expand our businesses independently and give each other what Guru called ‘creative space,’ before planning to reunite for our seventh LP when the time was right. Tragically, we will never reach that day.

“I’ve been asked to comment on a letter speaking ill of me which was supposedly written by Guru in his dying days. All I will say about it is that our time together was beautiful, we built a hip-hop legacy together, and no one can re-write history or take away my love for him. One thing I would never do is play around with the truth about his life.

“I will celebrate Guru’s life … I will honor his memory … I will grieve with the Elam family over his untimely death … I will remember the Gang Starr foundation and all of the original members of Gang Starr who came before me — we all know each other … mostly, I will cherish everything we created together as Gang Starr, forever. I’m gonna miss hearing his signature monotone voice when he walks in the room, but the songs will always bring it back to me … His rhyme flows were insane, and I will never remove him from my heart and soul. Rest in peace to the man who felt ‘satisfaction from the street crowd reaction.’ I love you Goo … DJ Premier.”

Share your memories of Guru and Gang Starr in the comments below.

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24′s Annie Wersching: Renee’s Death Will Make Jack Spiral Out of Control

Admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:15:56 +0000

Oh no, 24 didn’t. In the final moments of this week’s episode, the show killed off Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) just seconds after she and Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) consummated their relationship. TVGuide.com sat down with Wersching, who’s showing a little baby bump, to discuss the aftermath of Renee’s death, the emotion of being Jack’s final love on the series and what’s next for her career…

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Death Cab For Griffey: Gibbard and Co. Play Seattle’s Opening Day

Admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:48:27 +0000

Last week when Rolling Stone debated who rocked baseball’s Opening Day the best, we overlooked the fact that Seattle, the home of grunge and the Mariners, didn’t hold their opening day festivities until yesterday. To celebrate their first game, the Mariners welcomed Washington State natives Death Cab For Cutie onto the field pregame to treat the crowd to two classic baseball tracks, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and a cover of John Fogerty’s “Centerfield.” Watch the performance above (via TwentyFourBit).

Bonus points to singer Ben Gibbard for busting out a Mariners cap with the old school triton logo — former Mariner Harold Reynolds would be proud. Gibbard also threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to “Play Ball!” and by all accounts his pitching mechanics were a lot better than those displayed by southpaw Barack Obama when the President tossed the first pitch at the Washington Nationals game last week. Below, check out Gibbard and Nick Harmer’s pregame interview.

Bonus: Yesterday was also Opening Day for the Philadelphia Phillies, which gave the Phanatic an opportunity to dress up like Lady Gaga and harass the Washington Nationals’ third base coach. Video below.

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Survivor Producer a Suspect in Wife’s Death

Admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:40:41 +0000

A Survivor producer has been detained in Cancun as a suspect in his wife’s death, authorities told The Associated Press.

Monica Beresford-Redman was found dead Thursday morning in a sewer at the Moon Palace hotel in the Mexican resort city, where she, husband Bruce Beresford-Redman and their children …

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Erin Andrews Received Death Threats, Lawyer Says; Security Elevated at Dancing with the Stars

Admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 08:19:55 +0000

Less than a month after a man accused of shooting nude videos of her was sent to jail, Erin Andrews‘ attorney now says the ESPN reporter has received death threats, according to The Associated Press.

Andrews’ attorney, Marshall Grossman, says at least a dozen e-mails were sent to a media outlet threatening…

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MTV Defends Snooki After Report on Drunk Driving Death

Admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:06:15 +0000

MTV said Friday it did not know Jersey Shore star Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi was involved in the alcohol-related death of a classmate when she was cast on the show.

“Snooki was 16 when she was…

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Life After Death is Sweet for Uncorked’s Julie Benz

Admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:53:49 +0000

After four years as serial killer Dexter Morgan’s other half on Showtime’s hit Dexter, Julie Benz‘s on-screen alter ego was murdered in one of the year’s most jaw-dropping season finales. But with a recurring role on ABC’s Desperate Housewives and her new romantic comedy Uncorked, Benz is proving life after death can be sweet, even funny.

“I got my start in comedy years ago and then…

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Opera Star Renee Fleming Takes on Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie on “Dark Hope”

Admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:48:06 +0000

Photo: Sussman/Getty
Superstar soprano Renee Fleming is reinterpreting the term “rock opera” this spring with her new album Dark Hope. The Grammy-winning opera singer will take on songs by Arcade Fire, Muse, Death Cab for Cutie, Peter Gabriel, Leonard Cohen and many more on the disc, which was produced by David Kahne. “I’ve always been inspired by artists who have shown musical and intellectual curiosity and the courage to take risks,” Fleming says. “Because everything about the voice interests me, I felt it would be fascinating to learn a completely different style of singing.”

Fleming jumps from Mozart and Carmen to Jefferson Airplane, Duffy and Mars Volta on Dark Hope, and she says her primary goal was interpreting the songs in a way that made sense for her own unique voice. “Every song has a story, so this whole idea of enacting or playing a role is doubly true for this music.” Fleming’s sister and two daughters also join her on Dark Soul as backup singers.

Fleming is set to take on Band of Horses’ “No One’s Gonna Love You,” Arcade Fire’s “Intervention” and Tears For Fears’ “Mad World.” She’ll also become the latest singer to violate Leonard Cohen’s call for a moratorium on “Hallelujah” covers, but we’re sure Cohen would give a voice like Fleming special permission to tackle the classic track.

Dark Hope Track List:

“Endlessly” (Muse)
“No One’s Gonna Love You” (Band of Horses)
“Oxygen” (Willy Mason)
“Today” (Jefferson Airplane)
“Intervention” (Arcade Fire)
“With Twilight As My Guide” (The Mars Volta)
“Mad World” (Tears for Fears)
“In Your Eyes” (Peter Gabriel)
“Stepping Stone” (Duffy)
“Soul Meets Body” (Death Cab For Cutie)
“Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen)

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