The ongoing legal saga surrounding the tragic murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph took yet another twist as a Shelby County Judge set a new trial date for the accused men. Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, who both face multiple charges including first-degree murder, will now stand trial on September 23, FOX13 Memphis reported.
Johnson and Smith's trial, which was scheduled to commence on June 3, was postponed at the behest of the defense attorneys seeking more time to prepare expert witnesses. Meanwhile, an alleged mastermind behind the slaying, Hernandez Govan, will appear in court on July 29, as noted by court documents. The entire case has been beleaguered by delays; originally set for March, and then for June 3, with a switch in judiciary complicating matters further. One judge recused himself due to a potential perception of bias, according to The Commercial Appeal.
"I was extremely upset when the lawyers came to me, asking for a motion to continue this case," Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Mitchell stated regarding the latest delay, a sentiment she expressed during courtroom proceedings captured by ABC News. A pre-trial motion hearing for Johnson has also been slated for August 9, in anticipation of expert testimony over cellphone location records.
Closely watched across the nation, the murder of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., left a community reeling; the 36-year-old rapper was killed in broad daylight outside Makeda’s Homemade Cookies. The authorities have charged four men in total with connection to case, including Jermarcus Johnson who has pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the murder. His sentencing is expected to be postponed until after the trials, as per FOX13 Memphis. Details of his involvement include aiding communication between the suspects and their efforts to evade law enforcement.
The slain hip-hop artist was admired not just for his music but for his enduring philanthropy within Memphis. Young Dolph's legacy includes his involvement in educational funding, food giveaways, and providing for the less fortunate in the neighborhood he grew up in, as was hauntingly recounted by community members and local press alike. A road in the Castalia Heights was named in his honor, a tribute to a life and potential cut short by violence said to be orchestrated over petty disputes and entrenched street rivalries.
