AceShowbiz - The legal battle for Tay-K continues as his defense team requests a temporary halt on his murder appeal in Texas. The rapper, sentenced to 80 years in prison, is challenging the handling of critical iPhone evidence used in his trial.

Tay-K’s attorneys have filed documents asking a Texas appeals court to pause the ongoing appeal process. They want the case sent back to the trial court to obtain detailed findings from the judge regarding the denial of a motion to suppress evidence taken from an iPhone.

The contested evidence stems from a search warrant executed on a phone recovered from a vehicle linked to the 2017 fatal shooting of San Antonio photographer Mark Saldivar. The defense argued that the warrant lacked probable cause and sought to exclude the data gathered from the phone. However, the trial judge denied this motion, allowing prosecutors to use the evidence during the trial.

Tay-K’s legal team contends that the judge failed to issue the necessary written findings of fact and conclusions of law to justify the denial of the suppression motion. Instead, the defense says the judge made only brief, offhand remarks, which they argue are insufficient for the appeals court to properly review the decision.

In their filing, the defense emphasized the importance of detailed legal explanations to ensure a fair appellate review. Rather than requesting an immediate overturn of the conviction, they are seeking a pause in the appeal until the trial court provides the comprehensive reasoning behind the denial of their motion.

If the appeals court rejects the request for a pause, the defense alternatively seeks a two-week extension to file their appellate brief. This extension would allow them more time to prepare their arguments in the ongoing legal fight.

This development adds a new chapter to the saga surrounding Tay-K, whose real name is Taymor McIntyre. In April 2025, a Bexar County jury convicted him of murder in the death of Saldivar, rejecting the initial capital murder charge. He was subsequently sentenced to 80 years in prison.

This sentence runs concurrently with a 55-year sentence Tay-K is already serving for his involvement in a 2016 Mansfield home invasion that led to the death of Ethan Walker.

The rapper first gained widespread attention with his single "The Race," which became a viral hit while he was a fugitive. However, his legal issues have continued to overshadow his music career since his arrest and convictions.

At this time, the appeals court has yet to decide whether it will grant the requested pause or require the trial court to issue the detailed findings sought by Tay-K’s attorneys. The outcome of this procedural dispute could significantly impact the trajectory of his murder appeal.

This article is based on reporting originally published by AllHipHop.