What's happened
Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, known as Yak Gotti, face charges including murder and gang activity linked to the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr. The jury is deliberating after closing arguments, with defense attorneys arguing the prosecution's case relies on unreliable evidence and witness testimony.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the defense criticized the prosecution for relying on 'cherry-picked social media posts and song lyrics' to construct a narrative about the defendants. Prosecutor Simone Hylton countered, stating, 'We are targeting gang members who decided to wreak havoc on communities in Fulton County.' This contrast illustrates the conflicting perspectives on the defendants' actions and motivations. AP News echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the defense's argument that the young men are simply trying to escape poverty through music, while the prosecution maintains that their actions have real consequences in their communities.
How we got here
The trial stems from a broader indictment involving 28 individuals accused of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Young Thug, a co-founder of the alleged gang Young Slime Life (YSL), recently accepted a plea deal.
More on these topics
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Jeffery Lamar Williams, known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He is considered to be an influential figure of his generation, with his music impacting the modern sound of hip hop and trap music.
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Fulton County is a county in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2019 estimates, the population was 1,063,937, making it the state's most-populous county and its only one with over 1 million inhabitants.
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Georgia is a state in the Southeastern Region of the United States. Georgia is the 24th-largest in area and 8th-most populous of the 50 United States.
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Gunna most commonly refers to:
Gunna (rapper) (Sergio Giavanni Kitchens, born 1993), American rapper, singer, and songwriter
Gunna may also refer to: