May 6, 2009 0:54

Judge allows C-Murder to stay under house arrest

The rapper avoids jail before murder trial

A judge ruled today (May 5) that C-Murder can stay under house arrest rather than going to jail before standing trial for second-degree murder in August.

The rapper, whose real name is Corey Miller, has been under house arrest since paying $1 million bond at his hearing. He stands accused of killing 16-year-old Steve Thomas at a barroom brawl in 2002.

Prosecutors sought to end his house arrest and send him to jail, alleging that he violated a gag order by proclaiming his innocence on a website, but State District Judge Hans Liljeberg rejected the motion. He did, however, say that C-Murder was "walking a tightrope" and needed to watch his step to avoid being sent to prison, reports the Associated Press.

If convicted at the August hearing, C-Murder faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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