Rapper Lil Boosie Pleads Not Guilty to First-Degree Murder

BATON ROUGE, La. (CBS/WAFB) Baton Rouge-born hip-hop artist Torrence Hatch, known on stage as Lil Boosie, pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge Monday stemming from his alleged involvement in an October shooting incident that left one man dead, reports CBS affiliate WAFB.

Hatch's swift hearing lasted only two minutes and Defense Attorney Marcus Allen felt confident in his client's plea.

"He's not guilty. I think he meant what he said." said Allen. "We have no idea what the evidence is at this point. There is a lot of rumors and innuendo going on, so we'll get the evidence and go from there," Allen continued.

The rapper also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and drug charges, said WAFB. His girlfriend and two others indicted in Boyd's death pleaded not guilty to drug charges.

On June 17, an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted the rapper along with two others in the murder of Terry Boyd, 35, who police say was shot to death on Oct. 21 when bullets were fired through a window of his Baton Rouge home.

If convicted, Hatch, who is already in prison for violating his probation, could receive the death penalty, said District Attorney Hillar Moore.

Hatch glamorized his gritty Baton Rouge upbringing in his music. He arrived on the music scene with his 2005 summer hit "Give Me That." He achieved subsequent commercial success with his pithy 2007 club anthem "Wipe Me Down." No trial date information has been released.

MORE ON CRIMESIDER:
June 18, 2010 - Rapper Lil Boosie Indicted for First-Degree Murder; Death Penalty Possible, Says DA