The racketeering and gang conspiracy trial towards Young Thug and 5 associates in Atlanta, Georgia—already the longest felony trial in Georgia historical past at 18 months, with extra to inevitably observe—has been paused indefinitely as a consequence of alleged misconduct by Fulton County Superior Court docket Decide Ural Glanville, stories The Washington Post. Earlier at present, Decide Glanville introduced that the case wouldn’t proceed till one other decide decides whether or not he ought to recuse himself from overseeing the trial. This follows accusations from protection attorneys claiming that Decide Glanville held a secret assembly with prosecutors and key witness Kenneth Copeland to stress him to testify, which the attorneys argue was improper and unconstitutional.
Earlier at present, Glanville made the listening to public and introduced plans to launch the total transcript of his assembly with Copeland “so everybody can have an opportunity to have a look at it,” however then reversed course, notes The Washington Put up. Glanville then mentioned he would refer recusal motions to a different decide to find out whether or not or not he ought to stay on the case.
Brian Metal, Younger Thug’s lead lawyer, beforehand questioned Glanville in regards to the assembly and refused to disclose who knowledgeable him of it. As such, Metal was present in felony contempt final month and ordered to serve 20 weekend days in jail. Disputes over Copeland’s testimony and proof points have additionally delayed testimony, with jurors final listening to statements on June 17.
As we speak marked the one centesimal day of proceedings since opening statements. Younger Thug’s trial has been extended by a myriad of points, most notably a jury choice course of that took a grueling 10 months and, barely two weeks after the trial finally started in late November, one other delay after considered one of Younger Thug’s co-defendants, Shannon Stillwell, was stabbed in jail and hospitalized; Stillwell survived the assault. Prosecutors nonetheless aren’t midway by their projected witness listing, which incorporates over 200 individuals, and the trial is anticipated to final into 2025, notes The Washington Put up.
Younger Thug faces numerous charges, largely primarily based on the allegation that he led the Younger Slime Life (YSL) gang, with ties to the nationwide Bloods group. In opening arguments, Adriane Love, the chief deputy district lawyer for Fulton County, instructed the jury that YSL “moved like a pack,” with Younger Thug “as its head,” whereas searching for to dominate the Atlanta space. The protection countered by claiming that YSL is solely a file label whose artists adhere to the conventions of rap music, presenting entertaining accounts of felony life that its practitioners don’t in reality perform.
Metal beforehand mentioned that Younger Thug has “dedicated no crime in anyway.” Throughout opening arguments, he added that the rapper’s music tells a rags-to-riches story, from “melancholy, despair, hopelessness, and helplessness” to wealth and acclaim, and claimed Thug was now being exploited by the true criminals who would testify towards him.
The decide has additionally allowed prosecutors to submit song lyrics as evidence, a controversial authorized technique that analysts have discredited.
