The man accused of killing Migos rapper Takeoff wants a closer look at the evidence before his murder trial begins.
Patrick Xavier Clark is asking a judge for permission to have an independent expert examine items held by the Houston Police Department, including evidence tied to the bullets recovered in the fatal shooting, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
Clark says the review is necessary to help prepare his defense ahead of his November trial.
He was arrested in December 2022 and charged with murder after Takeoff, whose real name was Kirsnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside a Houston bowling alley weeks earlier.
Authorities have accused Clark of firing the shot that struck Takeoff in the head. Clark has denied involvement in the shooting.
Takeoff was 28 when he died on November 1, 2022. His death stunned fans and the music industry, where he had built a massive following as one-third of Migos alongside Quavo and Offset.
As the criminal case moves toward trial, Takeoff’s family is also dealing with a separate legal dispute.
His parents have been involved in a fight over how money from a wrongful death settlement should be divided.
Clark has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.