The Latest: Meek Mill freed from jail after 5-month battle

By: The Associated Press

Tuesday, April 24, 2018 5:05 PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

The Latest on the court order that rapper Meek Mill be released from jail on bail (all times local):

6:55 p.m.

Rapper Meek Mill is out of jail after being held behind bars for five months for probation violations.

Mill took off in a helicopter shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday from the prison outside of Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order freeing him on bail while he appeals decade-old drug and gun violations.

Mill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.

A team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail.

Philadelphia's district attorney believes Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.

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4:30 p.m.

Pennsylvania's highest court has ordered a judge to free rapper Meek Mill on bail while he appeals decade-old gun and drug convictions.

The Supreme Court directed a Philadelphia judge who had jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail.

Mill was sentenced in November to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation.

Mill issued a statement saying his five months in jail have been "a nightmare" and thanking all his supporters.

A team of lawyers and public relations consultants had waged an all-out battle to get him freed on bail.

Prosecutors say they believe Mill should get a new trial because of questions raised about the credibility of his arresting officer.

The Latest: Meek Mill freed from jail after 5-month battle

Protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for rapper Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release Mill on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

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Rapper Meek Mill's son Papi holds a sign as protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release Mill on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

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Rapper Meek Mill's son Papi holds a sign as protesters demonstrate in front of a courthouse during a hearing for the rapper, Monday April 16, 2018, in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release him on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

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Protesters uses their phones and listen to a speaker in front of a courthouse during a hearing for rapper Meek Mill, Monday April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia. The city's district attorney says Mill's convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial. The announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release Mill on bail. Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November 2017 to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.(AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

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FILE In this Nov. 6, 2017, file photo, rapper Meek Mill arrives at the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia. During a Monday, April 16, 2018, court hearing, Philadelphia prosecutors said Mill's drug and gun convictions should be thrown out and he should be granted a new trial, but Judge Genece Brinkley declined to rule and scheduled another hearing for June 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

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