arraignment this morning at 9 of hip hop artist

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION

STEVE COOLEY District Attorney JOSEPH SCOTT Director
JOHN K. SPILLANE Chief Deputy District Attorney SANDI GIBBONS P.I.O.
JANE ROBISON News Secretary
SHIARA M. DÁVILA Asst. P.I.O.

18-1112 Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-3525
Nov. 25, 2008

Swedish Hip Hop artist charged in purported road rage case

LOS ANGELES – Swedish Hip Hop artist David Moses Jassy was charged today in a purported road rage incident in Hollywood in which the victim, a pedestrian rights activist and musician, died.

Jassy, 34, in custody on $1 million bail, appeared briefly in Los Angeles Superior Court late this afternoon. His arraignment was put over until 9 a.m. tomorrow, so Jassy can have the services of a Swedish interpreter.

Although the victim, 55-year-old John Osnes died, Jassy currently is charged with assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, battery with serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of an accident. The assault charge also carried an allegation that Jassy personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim.

Authorities said the incident occurred on Sunday at Schrader Boulevard and Selma Avenue in Hollywood.

The victim was crossing the street on foot and the defendant stopped in a four-way stop, but his car allegedly extended into the crosswalk. Authorities said the victim used his hands to strike Jassy's car on the hood. The defendant got out and allegedly punched the victim in the face and kicked him in the head when the victim bent over to pick up his glasses.

Authorities said Jassy drove away despite attempts to stop him by witnesses, including an off-duty Anaheim police officer. His rental car drove over the victim's body as he left, authorities said.

An autopsy has not yet been performed to determine the cause of death and the case remains under investigation.

Jassy was arrested by Los Angeles police on Monday after they traced him through the rental car license plate.

The District Attorney's Office asked that if bail is posted, Jassy surrender his passport before he is released. He was represented by the Public Defender's Office.

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Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Criminal Justice Center
210 W. Temple St., 18th Floor
Los Angeles CA 90012
Phone: 213-974-3528
Email address: sandi@da.lacounty.gov