08 November 2013
Newsdesk
Kanye West has pleaded not guilty to battering a paparazzo.
The rapper is charged with criminal battery and attempted grand theft after allegedly attacking photographer Daniel Ramos outside of Los Angeles International Airport on July 19.
Kanye’s lawyer, Blair Berk, entered the plea on his client’s behalf in court Thursday morning, according to TMZ.
Ramos’ attorney, Gloria Allred, was also present during proceedings.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled to begin January 23 if both sides are unable to reach a plea agreement.
Kanye faces a maximum of one year in jail if convicted on the criminal charges.
He is also facing a civil suit filed by Ramos, who claims he was injured during the altercation.
Kanye previously claimed the snapper, who is heard on video peppering the star with questions before a struggle ensued, antagonised him at an emotionally vulnerable moment.
Venting to a TMZ videographer last month, he explained: “You know, I mean I’m dealing with the guy [Ramos] setting me up at the airport the other day you know he’s f**king laughing and sh*t… that’s the day I found out that my grandfather was not gonna make it and he passed away weeks later.”
Kanye welcomed daughter North with his partner Kim Kardashian in June.
The musician said he will protect his child at all costs and asks paparazzi to help him by treating him like a “human being”.
“You know, it’s just like my family is growing up, if you think about this, if you had a daughter and you guys say like crazy sh*t to me all the time right, you say it to my family, you ask about me. I couldn’t imagine my daughter being like four years old and you guys screaming at her,” he said.
“It’s not about me being a superstar it’s about me being a human being. And I really appreciate that.”
