Rapper Lil Boosie (born Torrence Hatch) pleaded not guilty on
Monday afternoon to murder, drug and conspiracy charges in a brief court
appearance. The 27-year-old Baton Rouge, Louisiana, rapper — already behind
bars on a probation violation — was indicted on first-degree murder charges by
a grand jury on June 17 in connection with an incident in October, when two men
shot and killed 35-year-old Terry Boyd through the window of his home.

According to The Advocate newspaper, Boosie appeared in
court for just a few minutes, looking somber, surrounded by six law enforcement
officers and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, with his wrists and ankles
shackled. He told state District Judge Mike Erwin he was not guilty of one
count of first-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to introduce contraband
into a penal institution, three counts of possession with intent to distribute
narcotics and three counts of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to
distribute narcotics.

Boosie was ordered to return to court on October 14. The rapper’s
attorney, entertainment lawyer Marcus Allen, told reporters afterward that his
client is “absolutely not guilty,” adding, “We’re going to be
preparing our defense. We have no idea what the evidence is. There’s a lot of
rumor and innuendo.”

Earlier this month, The Advocate reported that East Baton
Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said that investigators are
looking into whether Boosie and others have ties to at least five other
killings in the area since last year that have followed a similar
murder-for-hire template as the Boyd slaying. Hillar said on Monday that his
office hasn’t decided yet whether to pursue the death penalty against Boosie on
the murder charge, but said it was “obviously” an option.

Boosie is accused of paying men to kill Boyd and of conspiring
with his girlfriend, Walnita Decuir and a former prison guard to introduce
contraband — in this case, illegal drugs such as codeine pills and synthetic
marijuana — into the prison where the rapper is being held. He also faces a
third charge involving drugs and conspiracy. Boosie pleaded not guilty to all
the charges.

One of the men indicted earlier this month in the Boyd killing,
Michael “Marlo Mike” Louding, 17, was also indicted in five other
deaths, including the February killing of local up-and-coming rapper Chris
“Nussie” Jackson, who had been publicly beefing with Boosie until his
death in February. Police are also looking into the killing of Darryl
“Bleek” Milton, a former employee of Boosie’s record label, BadAzz
Entertainment, who was found shot in his Cadillac in April. (Via MTV News)