WEAPON CHARGE AGAINST WAYNA DROPPED

Last updated: Saturday, March 28, 2009

WEAPON CHARGE AGAINST WAYNA DROPPED

A judge has dismissed charges against Grammy-nominated singer WAYNA after she was arrested for attempting to board a plane at a Houston, Texas airport with a collapsible police baton.

Wayna at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center. Los Angeles, California - 08.02.09

The Ethiopian-American singer, real name Woyneab Miraf Wondwossen, was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon on Wednesday (25Mar09) following the discovery of the offending item.

The 24-inch (61 centimetre) baton was found in Wondwossen's carry-on bag by Bush International Airport officials at a security checkpoint.

She was transported to a Houston jail and later freed after posting a $5,000 (£3,425) bond.

But the charge was subsequently dropped by a Houston, Texas judge after Wayna and her legal team successfully argued that the baton was merely a prop used during her live performances.

The 35-year-old uses the weapon to perform a song called Billy Club from her 2008 album Higher Ground, about police abuse.

And the singer has thanked prosecutors for realising she made an honest mistake.

She writes in a statement, "The senior prosecutor recognised the case for what it was: an honest mistake that did not rise to the level of a criminal offence.

"Based on the facts, that was undoubtedly the correct decision, and we are thankful for that decision.

"Obviously, the past 48 hours have been life-altering. I'm incredibly relieved and grateful that it's over and that justice prevailed."

Source: WENN

| Saturday, March 28, 2009

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WEAPON CHARGE AGAINST WAYNA DROPPED

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