Young Thug trial resumes after YSL codefendant stabbed in jail: Live

The hotly-anticipated trial of the rapper Young Thug has resumed in a courtroom in Atlanta, Georgia, after a codefendant was stabbed in jail.

The trial has been plagued by delays. In May 2022, Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, was arrested and charged in a sprawling RICO indictment along with 27 other defendants.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis – who is using the same law to prosecute Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case – accused the suspects of being part of a criminal street gang named YSL or “Young Slime Life.”

According to prosecutors, the gang is responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings, carjackings and racketeering.

Young Thug denies the accusations and insists YSL is simply his record label – Young Stoner Life.

The trial has been undoubtedly rocky. On Sunday, Shannon Stillwell, a YSL co-defendant, was stabbed “multiple times” in jail by a fellow inmate. Mr Stillwell is in stable condition, the Fulton County sheriff’s office said.

In mid-December, the judge issued a ruling ordering that Mr Stillwell be housed separately in jail to his co-defendants in light of the stabbing. The case is restarting on 2 January.

Key points

• YSL trial resumes after weeks-long delay

• Who is Young Thug?

• YSL codefendant stabbed in jail, delaying trial

Cross-examination of Officer Cogdell

Tuesday 2 January 2024 22:21 , Kelly Rissman

After a series of breaks, the defence is cross-examining Mr Cogdell, who testified about an alleged incident involving codefendant Shannon Stillwell.

Mr Stillwell’s attorney, Mr Schardt, clarified that Mr Cogdell didn’t know who his client was when he saw him driving.

Mr Schardt described his client’s ‘bouncing around’ in the car, as the witness testified earlier, as just bopping around to music in his car; the officer said that he had seen a seatbelt violation, which prompted him to pursue Mr Stillwell’s vehicle.

The attorney also asked whether the person whom Mr Stillwell is accused of pushing reported the incident; the officer said she did not.

Mr Schardt also asked about the car, which was a rental, and the recovered firearm, which has never been reported stolen.

“Is your conclusion that Mr Stillwell acted on his own?” Mr Cogdell replied, “Yes.”

Social media users are wondering what is under Young Thug’s sweater

Tuesday 2 January 2024 21:50 , Kelly Rissman

Under the rapper’s blue turtleneck appeared a chunky object with a white wire trailing below, sparking speculation on social media as to whether a heat pad or something else was underneath.

Recap: Shannon Stillwell stabbing

Tuesday 2 January 2024 21:12 , Kelly Rissman

On 10 December, Mr Stillwell was stabbed while in custody at Rice Street Jail.

A fight erupted between a fellow inmate and Mr Stillwell — but it was unclear what led to the fight. Mr Stillwell was “stabbed multiple times by Brown” and Mr Stillwell is in stable condition, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said.

After the incident, the inmate was charged with aggravated assault and possession of prohibited items in connection to the stabbing,

According to the indictment, Mr Stillwell faces eight charges, including conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and two counts of murder. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Young Thug trial is back. Here’s what you need to know:

Tuesday 2 January 2024 20:56 , Kelly Rissman

The YSL members named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

The act is similar to its federal counterpart, which is used to convict large-scale organisations such as the mafia.

According to the indictment, associates of YSL “conspired to associate together and with others for the common purposes of illegally obtaining money and property through a pattern of racketeering activity”.

It claims that YSL members were involved in murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft, drug dealing, carjacking, and witness intimidation.

Other activities include “the posting of messages, images, videos and songs, demonstrating allegiance to the enterprise and willingness to engage in violence on its behalf”.

Prosecutors claim they can show that some of the group’s lyrics are related to crimes that they are accused of committing.

Through these activities and more the gang aimed to “preserve, protect, and enhance the reputation, power and territory” of the enterprise, prosecutors said.

Confused about some of the terms used in the YSL trial?

Tuesday 2 January 2024 20:35 , Kelly Rissman

We’ve got you covered.

Perhaps the most viral moments from the trial so far have consisted of the unusual terminology and references being used.

From ‘pushin P’ to ‘SLATT,’ here’s a guide to the most important - and perplexing - words and phrases so far:

YSL and Pushin P: A dictionary guide to the Young Thug trial

APD Officer Curtis Cogdell testifies

Tuesday 2 January 2024 20:09 , Kelly Rissman

The officer testified about an alleged incident that took place on 25 September 2019 involving Shannon Stillwell.

He said the “driver was dancing around in the driver’s seat” and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt so the officer tried to pull him over but the driver refused to stop.

The car ran a red light and then got involved in an accident. By the time Mr Codgell caught up to the car, he noticed the driver was running on foot, he told the court.

He was driving without a licence, the officer said.

What has happened in the trial so far?

Tuesday 2 January 2024 18:28 , Kelly Rissman

The trial has been nothing short of dramatic so far.

Both the prosecution and defence frequently make objections, delays are common, and courtroom chaos is ritual.

In the first week the case, jurors’ faces were shown in a livestream, prompting fears of a mistrial. A screenshot of the jurors sitting in the front row quickly circulated on social media.

But still, the trial went on.

Another key point of this case hinges on definitions, mainly on the definition of YSL. The proseuction claims that YSL stands for Young Slime Life, which is a “criminal street gang,” while the defence insists that YSL is merely a record label: Young Stoner Life.

Mr Williams’ attorney Brian Steel made waves when he offered up a few other contested definitions in his opening remarks. He said that the YSL abbreviation derives from the logo for designer brand Yves Saint Laurent. Mr Steel also claimed that “thug” stood for “truly humble under God,” when describing his client’s rap name.

Meanwhile prosecutor Adriane Love, in her opening statement, referenced The Jungle Book: “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” She then consistently painted Mr Williams as the head of said “pack.”

In the trial’s second week, Mr Williams sparked speculation that he was trying to send the prosecution a message by boasting a designer sweater emblazoned with a cartoon wolf. The sweater sold out days later.

ICYMI: ‘Pushin P’ redefined

Tuesday 2 January 2024 18:00 , Kelly Rissman

Defence attorney Brian Steel pulled up a Powerpoint slide during his opening remarks showing a photo of his client, Mr Williams, flashing a hand sign. The indictment states that Mr Williams is flashing a “‘Bloods’ gang sign.” Mr Steel said the prosecution is arguing that his hand is in the shape of a “B.”

Mr Steel said that his client was holding up the letter “P” before referencing a song by Mr Williams and his codefendant Sergio Kitchens, aka Gunna, called “pushin P.” The lawyer translated the song to mean “pushing positivity.”

According to Mr Steel, “It means, any circumstance you’re in, if you think positively about something, you can make it through. You’re pushing positivity.”

The term has been represented online by the 🅿️ emoji and is understood to mean “keeping it real” or, according to Mr Kitchens on The Breakfast Club, it “could” mean keeping it “player.”

Lunch time

Tuesday 2 January 2024 17:30 , Kelly Rissman

The jury took a recess for lunch and will return at 1.30pm, the judge said.

Next witness takes the stand: Sgt Sean Lenahan

Tuesday 2 January 2024 17:07 , Kelly Rissman

Mr Lenahan works for the city of Dunwoody police department. He worked as a criminal investigator from 2012-2015, he said.

He is testifying about the same July 2015 incident allegedly involving Mr Williams.

The defence is trying to point out that only Mr May heard Mr Williams yelling the threats to him. He asked Mr Lenahan if any witness at the scene named or pointed to which of the men made the threats; none of the witnesses did.

Due to lack of corroboration, the DeKalb County DA’s office dismissed the case, the defence added.

YSL, defined

Tuesday 2 January 2024 17:00 , Kelly Rissman

YSL takes on a few meanings in this trial.

According to its website, YSL stands for Young Stoner Life, a record label that includes artists Young Thug, Gunna, Yak Gotti, Unfoonk. They are all defendants in this trial.

The prosecution is arguing that “YSL” also stands for “Young Slime Life,” a “criminal street gang.”

During his opening remarks, Mr Steel discussed the alleged origins of “YSL.” He said the abbreviation stemmed from the “YSL” logo on Yves Saint Laurent pants.

Former police officer Mark Stevens testifies

Tuesday 2 January 2024 16:37 , Kelly Rissman

Mr Stevens is testifying about the same mall incident in July 2015 involving Mr Williams.

At the time, he identified the person making threats to the director of security as Jeffery Williams, he testified.

He said that the security director was trying to get the men to cooperate and to issue them a “criminal trespass ban.” After the “threat was made,” the security guard let the men go, he added.

Who is Young Thug?

Tuesday 2 January 2024 16:15 , Kelly Rissman

Born in 1991 as Jeffrey Lamar Williams, Young Thug is an Atlanta-born rapper. He also goes by the name Slime.

After starting his career at the age of 19, he signed with Gucci Mane’s record label, and went on to become one of the most influential artists on the contemporary hip-hop and trap music scene.

His first two albums “So Much Fun”, in 2019, and “Punk”, in 2021, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, as did his 2021 joint compilation album with Gunna, “Slime Language 2”.

Young Thug has also featured in multiple collaborations that have earned him several number one hits.

These include guest spots on Camila Cabello’s Havana in 2018, Travis Scott and MIA’s Franchise in 2020 and Drake and Future’s Way 2 Sexy in 2021, all of which topped the Billboard Hot 100.

He also co-wrote the hit song This Is America with Childish Gambino, real name Donald Glover, which became the first hip-hop track to win Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2019.

Young Thug is also noted for his style, with a 2016 GQ article describing him as “a leader of the psychedelic fashion movement of rap hippies”.

“He is unapproachable. He radiates volatility. I can’t even imagine him making actual, on-purpose eye contact with another human,” the article states.

Dwight Hutchins takes the stand

Tuesday 2 January 2024 16:03 , Kelly Rissman

Mr Hutchins testified that he used to work in security for 25 years until he had a stroke in 2020.

He said that he worked at Perimeter Mall from 2013 to 2015, which is the same place where Mr Williams was accused of making “terroristic threats” in July 2015.

When the prosecutor asked whether he encountered two ‘men on hoverboards, he said he remembered explaining to them why that wasn’t permitted. But they didn’t listen, Mr Hutchins testified.

He added that their demeanor toward him was “okay” But he contacted the director of security because he couldn’t “handle” dealing with them.

As they were leaving, he said they were yelling profanity, but didn’t remember which man was doing the yelling.

The indictment accuses Mr Williams of telling the security director that he “would shoot him in the face with a gun” if he approached.

Mr Hutchins allegedly wrote an incident report dated 7 July 2015 with his signature on it, but the witness said he didn’t remember writing the statement.

ICYMI: Trial was delayed for weeks after codefendant was stabbed in jail

Tuesday 2 January 2024 15:30 , Kelly Rissman

The third week of the YSL trial got off to a dramatic start when one of the defendants was reportedly stabbed.

Defendant Shannon Stillwell “was stabbed in jail,” Max Schardt, his lawyer, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday.

Willie Brown, an inmate at Rice Street Jail, was charged with aggravated assault and possession of prohibited items in connection to the stabbing, according to a Fulton County Sheriff’s Office press release.

A fight erupted between Mr Brown and Mr Stillwell on the evening of 10 December — but it’s still not known what led to the fight. Mr Stillwell was “stabbed multiple times by Brown” and Mr Stillwell is in stable condition, the release stated.

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Young Thug co-defendant in YSL Rico trial is stabbed in jail

The Young Thug trial is set to resume

Tuesday 2 January 2024 15:14 , Kelly Rissman

The Young Thug trial is about to restart on 2 January after a weeks-long break following a YSL codefendant being stabbed in prison.

The trial was supposed to begin at 9.30am, but like consistent with this case so far, it is once again delayed.