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The unanimous three-judge opinion granted the rapper a new trial with a new judge because of recent evidence of alleged police corruption and said he would likely be acquitted if the case is retried.
"We conclude the after-discovered evidence is of such a strong nature and character that a different verdict will likely result at a retrial," the opinion said.
Defense attorneys argued that Brinkley was biased and too involved in Mill's life. Brinkley had kept Mill on probation for 10 years over his 2007 arrest when he was 19, and she sent him back to prison for several short stints for violating parole. He has been called back to court repeatedly over concerns about his travels and, in one instance, use of painkillers. Then-girlfriend Nicki Minaj testified for him at one such hearing in 2016.
And the only witness in his trial, Mill's attorneys added, was a retired Philly cop who lied under oath.
Officer Reginald Graham said at Mill's trial that the rapper pointed a gun at him during the arrest outside his Southwest Philadelphia home. He has denied pointing a gun at police.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office issued a statement on the court's decision: “The District Attorney’s Office is pleased that the Pennsylvania Superior Court has validated our position that Robert Rihmeek Williams deserves a new trial before a court that has no appearance of partiality. The DAO led by District Attorney Larry Krasner is currently reviewing the opinion issued today and will begin to review options.”
Krasner has said his office would not call Graham as a witness in any new trial, because of concerns over his credibility and "legal, ethical and constitutional obligations." A police colleague who took part in Mill's arrest later said Graham lied about him brandishing a gun.
The officer left the Philadelphia Police Department a few years ago after an internal probe found he had stolen money and then lied about it.
"The past 11 years have been mentally and emotionally challenging, but I'm ecstatic that justice prevailed," he said. "Unfortunately, millions of people are dealing with similar issues in our country and don't have the resources to fight back like I did. We need to continue supporting them."