The man accused of murdering rapper Nipsey Hussle has had his trial delayed after suffering from a brutal attack with a razorblade whilst in jail.
Eric Holder, 32, was attacked by several inmates while he was in a holding cell waiting to be brought to the Los Angeles courtroom where he’s currently standing trial for murdering Nipsey Hussle in 2019.
Holder fell unconscious following the assault and subsequently required three staples on his head.
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Due to the extent of his injuries he was unable to attend court the following day.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Holder’s attorney Aaron Janson said: “[He] was attacked by two inmates and beaten. He was cut with a razor in the back of his head and received three staples. His face is swollen and his eye is swollen.”
Holder is accused of shooting Nipsey - real name Ermias Joseph Asghedom - over ten times outside of his clothing store, The Marathon, in 2019.
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Video footage of the incident also shows Holder kicking Hussle’s head while he was on the ground bleeding.
The murder trial started on 15 June, over three years after the rapper’s death, and Holder has currently been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke responded to the incident by informing jurors that 'based on some unforeseen circumstances that are no fault of parties here, we won’t be in session today,' before adding that they should plan on returning on Wednesday (June 29) unless instructed otherwise.
Due to the high-profile nature of the case, Holder should have been kept separate from other inmates while the trial was ongoing, making it unclear how this attack was able to happen.
Both Hussle and Holder grew up in the same neighbourhood and were affiliated with the same street gang — the Rollin 60s Neighbourhood Crips in South Los Angeles.
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On the day of his murder, Holder's attorney Aaron Jansen claims Hussle accused his client of ‘snitching’ when the two men had a brief chance encounter outside his shop, which the defense lawyer called 'a grave sin in gang culture'.
“This is a case about the heat of passion,” Jansen told jurors. The lawyer went on to claim that the alleged sleight made Holder “so inflamed and enraged” that he opened fire on Nipsey “a mere nine minutes later” before he was able to regain his composure.
Court is expected to resume on Wednesday. Holder’s defence is expected to include two witnesses and take less than a day.
If convicted, Holder faces the possibility of life in prison.
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