New Judge Denies Mistrial Motion in Young Thug, YSL Case; Jury Returns Monday
Latest Mistrial Motion in YSL Trial Denied
In the ongoing trial of Young Thug and his YSL (Young Slime Life) associates, the new judge has denied a recent motion for a mistrial filed by defendant Deamonte Kendrick. This ruling comes as the jury is set to return to the courtroom on Monday to continue hearing testimony.
Fulton County Judge’s Ruling on Mistrial Motion
The motion for a mistrial, submitted on July 23, 2024, and supplemented on July 31, 2024, was based on four main arguments:
- Impossibility of Redoing Proceedings: Kendrick claimed that the trial proceedings from June 12, 13, 14, and 17 were compromised and could not be redone after the recusal of the previous judge. The court rejected this argument, asserting that previous orders had already addressed these concerns and that steps were being taken to resubmit or re-present necessary testimony and evidence.
- Ex Parte Meeting on June 10: Kendrick alleged that his constitutional rights were violated due to his and his counsel’s absence from a critical ex parte meeting on June 10, 2024. This meeting involved the former judge, prosecutors, and Kenneth Copeland’s counsel, primarily discussing Copeland’s immunity. The court found that this meeting did not constitute a critical stage requiring Kendrick’s presence.
- Alleged Coercion of Witness Testimony: The motion claimed that the predecessor judge and prosecutors coerced witness Kenneth Copeland into testifying by providing inaccurate legal information. The court acknowledged some inaccuracies but found no evidence of coercion that would warrant a mistrial. Copeland was recalled to clarify any misinformation in the presence of all parties.
- Bias of the Predecessor Judge: Kendrick’s motion alleged bias on the part of the previous judge. The court dismissed this claim, noting that the predecessor judge had already been recused and the issue was therefore moot.
Response to Motion for a Fair Trial
In response to Shannon Stillwell’s attorney’s Motion for a Fair Trial, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has mandated that the entire prosecution team undergo training on Brady and other professional obligations. This training will involve a video replay of a session presented by the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.
Prosecution and Discovery Disputes
Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the prosecution withholding evidence. Recently, Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, discovered a cell phone number in late discovery that had been initially omitted by the prosecution. The prosecution later claimed the omission was due to the person associated with the number not being arrested at the time, although they later proved that the number had been included in earlier discovery.
Upcoming Trial Proceedings
The damage done by Judge Glanville and the State has infected the entire body of this trial and emergency amputation of the judge can’t save it.
— Doug Weinstein 🇺🇸🇹🇼⚖️🎲 (@doug_weinstein) August 9, 2024
Nevertheless, we will continue to fight for justice and the eventual freedom of Mr. Kendrick. pic.twitter.com/T3Zjjf4Kat
The jury is scheduled to return to the courtroom on August 12 after an eight-week break. During this hiatus, the original judge, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville, was removed from the case. Judge Whitaker has since taken over and has been overseeing the proceedings amidst ongoing disputes between the judge, state prosecutors, and defense attorneys.
Witness and Trial Developments
Last week, Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, the state’s star witness, briefly appeared in court. Judge Whitaker ensured that Copeland had legal representation and understood the implications of his testimony. Copeland’s appearance was marked by uncertainty regarding his willingness to testify on Monday.
Background on the Case
Young Thug and 27 others were indicted in 2022 under Georgia’s RICO law, facing multiple charges, including violent crimes. The trial, which began in November 2023, is the longest in Georgia’s history. Prosecutors aim to prove that YSL is a criminal street gang involved in various offenses, while the defendants, including Young Thug (Jeffery Williams), argue that YSL represents a record label rather than a criminal organization.
KaranRathod
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