Lil Wayne sentenced to one year in jail

After whirlwind goodbyes to fans, diminutive U.S. rapper Lil Wayne was sentenced to one year in jail yesterday after he pleaded guilty on a gun possession charge stemming from a 2007 incident. Lil Wayne, 27, whose real name is Dwayne Carter and who also goes by the moniker "Weezy," appeared in New York State Supreme Court wearing jeans and a grey hooded sweatshirt. Justice Charles Solomon passed the sentence for attempted criminal possession of a weapon after a plea agreement in which Carter gave up his right to appeal over a case in which a gun was found in his tour bus in July 2007. Carter remained silent during the hearing and nodded solemnly when led to jail in handcuffs. His sentencing had been postponed twice in the last month, once so he could get dental surgery and then because a fire shut the courthouse for four days. Carter is headed to Rikers Island jail, where he will be held in protective custody and could be released in eight months with good behaviour, said his lawyer, Stacey Richman.