Footage Vindicates Snoop; UK Ban Overturned, Officers Blamed
posted Thursday, April 24, 2008 7:35 AM

By Chris Richburg
Snoop Dogg is free to roam the United Kingdom, thanks to a senior immigration judge who officially overturned the rapper’s ban in the country yesterday (April 23).



According to The Guardian, senior immigration judge George Warr based his decision to lift the ban on an earlier ruling by immigration judge Nehar Bird, who found that there was no evidence that Snoop Dogg had been responsible for any public disorder, nor did he initiate it.



The decision is in contrast with reports over an incident at Heathrow Airport in 2006 during a mass brawl between Snoop Dogg’s entourage and airport security.



The rapper and five members of his entourage were arrested after the brawl, which resulted in seven officers being injured.



A DVD film of the fracas features the 37-year-old Snoop Dogg entertaining young children, just before the brawl.



Snoop Dogg, who was given a caution by authorities, also did not retaliate against a police officer, who is seen shoving the rapper twice in the footage.



A constable’s statement confirmed that Snoop Dogg complied with instructions from the Metropolitan Police to lie face down on the floor of a shop during the brawl and did not resist when he was handcuffed.



Upon viewing the DVD, Bird concluded that the Heathrow incident was "precipitated by decisions made by BA staff and the police."



"The appellant's behavior on the DVD did show him interacting with the public," Bird said. "The children were laughing and generally enjoying either dancing or singing or playing music."



In his ruling, Warr determined that there was nothing to support the notion that Bird had overlooked evidence or made a material error of law.



“Wednesday’s decision served as nothing more than a verification of why the case was "an appalling waste of public money to pursue this man," Snoop‘s lawyer Phillip Trot told The Guardian. "It is outrageous that the government is trying to exclude someone who is an innocent figure and has frequently spoken against gang culture and youths carrying guns.�



In related news, Snoop Dogg recently inked a deal with Extreme Music, a production unit of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.



The rapper will produce The G-Series, a CD series of original Hip-Hop music for a number of outlets, including film, television and advertising projects.