The jury in Los Angeles also found Eric R Holder Jr guilty of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter. Holder, wearing a blue suit and face mask, did not react when the jury returned its verdict after about six hours of deliberation. Holder and Hustle had known each other for years, having grown up in the same South Los Angeles gang. Image: Rapper Nipsey Hussle, pictured in 2018. Photo: AP The shooting came after a conversation between them and two others about rumors that Holder was an informant for authorities. Evidence against Holder included witness reports and nearby surveillance cameras that recorded his arrival at the scene, the shooting and his departure. Aaron Jansen’s attorney did not deny he was the gunman, but said jurors should find him guilty of voluntary manslaughter — not murder. Mr Janssen said Holder’s whistleblower accusation had sparked a “heat of passion”, adding: “This is a challenge that provokes anger and strong emotion.” Image: Eric Holder. Photo: Twitter/LAPD But Deputy District Attorney John McKinney said others involved in the conversation were calm, meaning that could not have been the motive. The time between the conversation and the shooting was more than enough time for Holder to plan the killing – a requirement for first-degree murder, Mr McKinney added. Hussle – whose legal name is Ermias Asghedom – was 33 when he was murdered outside his clothing store in Los Angeles, having just released an album that earned him his first Grammy nomination. The father-of-two was shot at least 10 times, the court heard. He was part of the South Los Angeles community where he owned many businesses. He was also an advocate against gun violence and was set to meet with Los Angeles law enforcement to discuss ways to stop gang violence.
