BREAKING: Shawty Redd Beats Murder Charges

Atlanta producer Shawty Redd can finally go back to focusing solely on music-making as reports now claim he has been found not guilty on 2010 murder charges.

According to Shawty's legal team, he won his legal case in court this week.

Rap producer Shawty Redd can now put his legal troubles behind him. MTV News learned exclusively from Redd's attorney Ashutosh Joshi on Thursday (November 3) that the Atlanta hitmaker has been found not guilty of murder, as well as lesser charges he was hit with after the fatal 2010 New Year's Day shooting of Damon Martin. The bench trial, which began Monday, was decided by a judge without a jury and concluded Wednesday. On Thursday, Judge Wade Crumbly cleared the "Who Dat" producer (real name: Demetrius Lee Stewart) on all charges relating to Martin's death. "The defense [in the trial] was clearly self-defense," Joshi told MTV News. "We argued that Redd's life was threatened both verbally and physically, and this occurred in his home and that he shot this gentleman as a result of that." (MTV)

In January 2010, Redd's attorney Marcia Fuller said her client was being wrongly accused.

A day after the hearing, Fuller said: "Demetrius was absolutely defending himself during the incident," she said. "His career will continue. At this point we are waiting for the district attorney to make a decision as to whether or not they are going to go forward on this matter or dismiss it." According to a source within Shawty Redd's camp who is familiar with Tuesday's court proceedings, two of the producers' associates reportedly testified that Martin was "an intruder" who was shot in self-defense, although the police report refers to him as an "associate." (VIBE)

The producer was granted a bail bond shortly after his arrest.

Shawty Redd, born Demetrius Lee Stewart, was formally charged with the January 1 shooting death of 35-year-old Damon Martin. The hit making producer stood before Henry County Superior Court Judge Brian Amero today. Prosecutors pleaded with Judge Amero not to release the hit making producer, Dennis Byron, of HipHopEnquirer told AllHipHop.com, but bond was set at $200,000. Stewart has been held in a Henry County jail without a bond since the shooting. He is currently being represented by attorney Marcia Fuller. (All Hip Hop)

He was accused of shooting a 35 year-old man on January 1, 2010.

Police have released the name of a man shot and killed Friday morning at the home of a popular music producer. Demetrius Lee Stewart - also known as Shawty Redd - allegedly shot Damon A. Martin, 35, of Detroit, Friday morning after an altercation at Stewart's home in Hampton. Henry County Police responded to an 8 a.m. call Friday morning after someone reported a shooting in the 2000 block of Ballymeade Lane in Hampton. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)