The racketeering and gang conspiracy trial in opposition to Young Thug and 5 associates in Atlanta, Georgia—already the longest prison trial in Georgia historical past at 18 months, with extra to inevitably comply with—has been paused indefinitely attributable to alleged misconduct by Fulton County Superior Courtroom Choose Ural Glanville, stories The Washington Post. Earlier at this time, Choose 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 Choose 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 this time, Glanville made the listening to public and introduced plans to launch the complete transcript of his assembly with Copeland “so everybody could have an opportunity to take a look at it,” however then reversed course, notes The Washington Publish. 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 concerning the assembly and refused to disclose who knowledgeable him of it. As such, Metal was present in prison 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.
In the present day marked the a 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 Publish.
Younger Thug faces numerous charges, principally based mostly 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, advised the jury that YSL “moved like a pack,” with Younger Thug “as its head,” whereas looking for to dominate the Atlanta space. The protection countered by claiming that YSL is just a document label whose artists adhere to the conventions of rap music, presenting entertaining accounts of prison life that its practitioners don’t in reality perform.
Metal beforehand mentioned that Younger Thug has “dedicated no crime in any respect.” 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 in opposition to him.
The decide has additionally allowed prosecutors to submit song lyrics as evidence, a controversial authorized technique that analysts have discredited.