Bates Wells partner in Busta Rhymes v police gun showdown
Bates Wells & Braithwaite immigration partner Philip Trott is launching a complaint against the police after he was separated from rapper client Busta Rhymes at gunpoint.
The incident occurred when Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, was detained by 15 police officers at London City Airport when he tried to enter the UK at the end of September.
Trott had travelled with Smith on his flight from Amsterdam to London, where the rapper was scheduled to headline the Orange RockCorps concert, to assist with immigration issues.
They were met by five police officers on the runway and 10 more in the airport, all carrying machine guns.
Trott, who also acts for rappers 50 Cent, P Diddy and Snoop Dogg, said: “There was a time when I had to make a decision to either stand back or stay with Busta and possibly be arrested at gunpoint for obstructing a police officer.”
The chief immigration officer initially denied Smith entry due to unresolved criminal convictions in the US.
Trott won two High Court injunctions from Mr Justice Flaux on that day and Smith was released and arrived at the concert on time.
Read our profile of Philip Trott.
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Readers' comments (11)
Alexa Nylon | 9-Oct-2008 5:43 pm
Busts's Heathrow Drama
Seriously guys, there's a reason why lawyers have no street cred, and our rapping is lame to put it kindly (fyi Mr or Ms Rappers Delight- pls do NOT quit your day job, ha!). However, he (Philip) has some major clients though like fifty or 'fidy', P/Diddy and Snoop, I want to work with Philip (not sure about having to stand by my clients side at gunpoint though, perhaps I could assist Diddy with his annual trip toSt Tropez or Canne or his parties at Bungalow 8, how about it Phil?
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