Young Dolph Murder Trial in Memphis Delayed Until September, Outside Jurors to be Brought In

The much-anticipated trial of the two men accused of the slaying of Memphis rapper Young Dolph has hit another snag. Defendants Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith will now have to wait until September to face a jury, with the trial date being delayed from its initial June 3 start. The exact date for the trial commencement remains undecided, according to information from the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office obtained by FOX13 Memphis.

Defense lawyers for the duo had filed a motion requesting more time to review evidence, a move that was accepted by a Criminal Court to avoid a rushed process. Both defendants, Johnson, 25, and Smith, are currently held without bail in the Shelby County Jail on charges that include first-degree murder and criminal attempted first-degree murder.

One of the standout elements of the case is the court's decision to bring in outside jurors—a reflection of the trial's high profile and extensive media coverage, as reported by WREG. This was confirmed in February, a move that appeared to not shake the confidence of prosecutors, like Paul Hagerman, who was quoted in Local Memphis saying, "the change of venue would not pose an obstacle for prosecutors."

Further complicating the case is Hernandez Govan, who is charged with ordering the hit against Young Dolph, currently out on a $90,000 bond and under house arrest. Another suspect, Jermarcus Johnson, has already entered a guilty plea to accessory charges after striking a plea deal. Meanwhile, the victims and the city await justice for a fallen son of Memphis, whose life was cut down amid a hail of bullets at Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies on Airways Boulevard.