NORE takes the stand during Triple Murder Trial

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Rapper NORE was in court on Wednesday, January 10th, but unlike past visits he was there simply as a witness on behalf of his friend and former roadie, Darryl Henderson, who is facing the death penalty if found guilty of a gruesome triple murder. The Associated Press reports that Henderson and two associates are accused of stabbing and cutting the throats of three people just a few blocks from Yankee Stadium in 2002. The three men allegedly stole 30 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of $500,000. Henderson and his friends were members of the Murder Unit, an aspiring rap group and allegedly a gang which sold cocaine and marijuana in the Bronx.

While on the stand, NORE -- whose real name is Victor Santiago -- said he was unaware that Henderson and the others had criminal records and that while on tour they mostly threw wild parties. NORE said, "I don't want to see him go to jail, no." The rapper added that he met the men in 1998 and had no idea about their criminal activities.

Defense lawyer David E. Patton denied that the Murder Unit was a gang but he did admit that Henderson sold drugs in the past. Patton added, "Frankly, given the predicament Darryl is in right now, Murder Unit may well be the worst name in the history of names."

NORE explained that the whole Murder Unit was just part of marketing the group because hardcore acts sell. He said, "Hardcore hip hop tends to sell more records. It's about selling an image."

The rapper added that he was only trying to help the men achieve their dreams. He said, "The torch was handed to me to do it for somebody else. He's my man. They're trying to make it something that it's not. I believe he's innocent."

NORE also testified that Henderson was never at the center of any of the violence which occurred while they were on tour.