Jeffery Williams’ YSL gang trial is streaming live on Atlanta News First and the ANF+ YouTube channel.
By Tim Darnell and Rachel Aragon
Published: Apr. 24, 2024 at 9:16 AM EDT|Updated: Apr. 24, 2024 at 9:32 AM EDT
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Young Thug’s internationally followed trial resumes Wednesday as defense attorneys are anticipated to get a chance to cross-examine a witness soon who unabashedly called the rapper’s YSL record label a gang.
But before the former Atlanta police detective who is also a court-certified gang expert testified on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys debated about whether several jail calls should be played in front of the jury.
One of the jail calls involved Walter Murphy who testified in the trial earlier this month.
The alleged YSL co-founder took a plea deal in this case.
Prosecutors wanted to play a jail call between Murphy and his significant other shortly after Murphy was arrested in connection to a 2015 shooting.
The state is hoping this jail call will help prove that Murphy conspired with Jeffery Williams - aka rapper Young Thug - to commit a series of crimes as part of the alleged YSL gang.
“We got to ask Thug to start a fundraiser or something, but I got to get me some money,” Murphy can be heard saying on the jail call.
Williams’ defense attorneys say YSL is not a gang but simply the name of a record label and argued against the call being played in front of the jury.
“Having a fundraiser does not show a conspiracy just because he knows Jeffery Williams,” said Williams’ attorney Brian Steel.
The judge ultimately allowed some parts of the jail call to be played for the jury.
The former Atlanta police detective, who has been testifying for several days, is expected to continue her testimony next week when the trial resumes.
On Monday, before the former Atlanta investigator was called to testify, Glanville warned the state that some witness testimony is getting repetitive.
The former Atlanta investigator is testifying as a fact witness and a court-certified gang expert. She used to work in the Atlanta Police Department’s gang unit.
Prosecutors indicated they have three more experts they plan to call up, but that no two witnesses of theirs are the same. The state says the expert witnesses have different backgrounds and training.
Last week the former Atlanta investigator also identified Jeffery Williams and Shannon Stillwell as members of the Young Slime Life, or YSL, gang. Defense attorneys claim YSL is not a gang, but simply the name of a record label, Young Stoner Life. They also claim Williams and his co-defendants are not responsible for any of the crimes presented in court.
Young Thug is on trial in Fulton County in a massive RICO case involving himself and five other defendants.
For weeks, Judge Ural Glanville has admonished both sides in Young Thug’s trial to file motions early and collaborate with each other. The trial has already broken records for Georgia’s longest jury selection, and is well on its way to becoming the state’s – and possibly the nation’s – longest criminal trial.
Last week, an amazing outburst of emotion erupted between Glanville and Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love over repeated motions delays and a lack of collaboration between prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Attorney Max Schardt, who represents Shannon Stillwell, recently filed a motion pertaining to one of the witnesses. Glanville has warned attorneys against filing motions at the last minute because it slows down the trial.
“Here’s the court’s concern: You could’ve filed this as a motion months ago,” Glanville told Schardt Wednesday.
But it wasn’t just the defense who felt the pressure to move this trial along. The judge also scolded prosecutors Thursday.
The defense objected to a 105-page PowerPoint presentation that prosecutors wanted to introduce. That led to another admonishment from Glanville, who then aimed his ire at Love. That led to a shouting match between Love and Glanville.
“Next time, make sure you’re prepared. Make sure you’re prepared next time,” Glanville told the state right after calling for the jury to be summoned.
The judge also repeatedly asked prosecutors and defense attorneys to come to court on time.
Prosecutors have indicated they have about 150 witnesses they still plan to call.
Williams is facing eight criminal counts under a federal law that was originally enacted to fight organized crime. Georgia is one of 33 states that has its own RICO law, but in the Peach State, the alleged criminal enterprises do not have to have existed as long as the federal law.
Here's what's happened so far in Young Thug's trial
Williams is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of codeine with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of a firearm; and possession of a machine gun.
Atlanta News First is broadcasting gavel-to-gavel coverage of Young Thug’s trial on its live stream and YouTube channel.
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Atlanta News First will be covering the trial live on our ANF+ livestreams, which you can watch on our website, on Youtube or on Roku, Fire TV and AppleTV. We will also report on the events online.
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