Meek Mill's conviction thrown out, granted new trial

Photo courtesy of The Office of Gov. Tom Wolf

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Pennsylvania appeals court threw out on Wednesday rapper Meek Mill's decade-old conviction in a drug and gun case.

The unanimous three-judge opinion grants the rapper born Robert Williams a new trial because of new evidence of alleged police corruption.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court also overturned the trial judge's parole violation findings that sent the entertainer back to prison in 2017 for five months.

"We conclude the after-discovered evidence is of such a strong nature and character that a different verdict will likely result at a retrial," the opinion said.

Prosecutors could choose to drop the case.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's office has said it will not call the police officer who was the sole prosecution witness because of new doubts about his credibility.