FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Three men were found guilty of first-degree murder Monday in the 2018 killing of star rapper XXXTentacion, who was shot outside a South Florida motorcycle shop while being robbed of $50,000.

Michael Boatwright, 28, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, also were convicted of armed robbery.

Their sentencing, set for April 6, will largely be a formality; Florida law dictates a life sentence for first-degree murder convictions.

The defendants showed little emotion as they stood one by one to be handcuffed by a bailiff. There was no audible reaction from family members and other observers in the courtroom. Before the verdicts were read, Usan warned that anyone who caused any kind of disruption would be held in contempt of court.

During the trial, prosecutors linked Boatwright, Williams and Newsome to the shooting outside Riva Motorsports in Fort Lauderdale through extensive surveillance video, plus cellphone videos the men took showing them flashing fistfuls of $100 bills hours after the slaying.

Prosecutors also had the testimony of a fourth man, Robert Allen, a former friend of the defendants who said he participated in the robbery. He pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder. He has not been sentenced pending the conclusion of this trial. He could get anywhere between time served and life, depending partly on how much weight prosecutors give to his assistance.

Defense attorneys accused Allen of being a liar who was motivated by his desire to avoid a life sentence. They also said detectives didn’t look at other possible suspects, including the Canadian rap star Drake, with whom XXXTentacion had an online feud.

The rapper, who pronounced his name “Ex ex ex ten-ta-see-YAWN,” was a platinum-selling rising star who tackled issues including prejudice and depression in his songs. He also drew criticism over bad behavior and multiple arrests, including charges that he severely beat and abused his girlfriend.

———

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Bad Bunny’s ex–girlfriend is suing the superstar for at least $40 million over a well-known voice recording she provided the singer before he became famous.

Carliz De La Cruz Hernández, whose breathy “Bad Bunny, baby” recording was included in two of the artist’s songs, claimed in a lawsuit filed this month in a Puerto Rico court that her voice and the phrase she came up with are being used without her permission.

The lawsuit says the phrase was used in the “Pa Ti,” song, which has more than 355 million views on YouTube, and also in “Dos Mil 16,” which has more than 60 million views on YouTube.

The lawsuit states that De La Cruz’s “distinguishable voice” also has been used without her consent for songs, records, promotions, worldwide concerts, television, radio and social and musical platforms.

De La Cruz and Martínez first became a couple in 2011. The birth of the phrase, “Bad Bunny, baby,” came in 2015, and Martínez asked De La Cruz to record herself saying it. She did so in a bathroom one day.

In 2016, Martínez proposed to De La Cruz and she agreed, but she ended their relationship 5 months later.

They got back together in 2017, but again went their separate paths.

Then in May 2022, a Bad Bunny representative reached out to De La Cruz, offering her $2,000 to buy the recording of her voice. De La Cruz declined. A deal was never reached, and the song was published without De La Cruz’s consent, according to the lawsuit.

———

Sam Neill revealed he was diagnosed with blood cancer.

The "Jurassic Park" spoke to The Guardian in about learning of his diagnosis. “Those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends," he said.

Neill, 75, experienced swollen glands while promoting 2022's "Jurassic World: Dominion." He was diagnosed with Stage 3 of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

He received chemotherapy and started a new chemotherapy drug when the first treatment started to fail. Now cancer-free, will be taking the drug every month "for the rest of his life."

The actor has written a book, "Did I Ever Tell You This?"

"I never had any intention to write a book. But as I went on and kept writing, I realized it was actually sort of giving me a reason to live," he said.

Neill said that he "couldn't care less" about dying but wants "another decade or two" to bask in the life and home he has.

"We've built all these lovely terraces, we've got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature," he said. "And I've got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big."

From combined wire reports