The trial dates for the suspects in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph have been confirmed. Shelby County Judge Jennifer Mitchell has set September 23 as the day the suspects appear in court. This trial date marks the third scheduling for the case, which has seen previous dates postponed from its original date on March 11 and a rescheduled date of June 3, as reported by Action News 5.
Young Dolph, who was shot at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies on November 17, 2021, was fondly remembered for his routine visits to the bakery whenever he was in Memphis. Accused of the shooting, Justin Johnson, 26, and Cornelius Smith, 34, have been in custody since January 2022 and are facing first-degree murder charges, which could result in life imprisonment without parole. Hernandez Govan, alleged to have orchestrated the murder, pleaded not guilty and is under house arrest after a recent arrest on unrelated traffic violations, FOX13 Memphis reported.
In addition to the suspects mentioned above, Jermarcus Johnson will face trial despite already pleading guilty to accessory after the fact charges. Handel Durham, the attorney representing Govan, stated, "The judge wants to keep a pretty tight rein on everything, especially Mr. Govan and all the defendants that are involved," as per WREG News Channel 3. Durham Jr. also noted the public's need to understand what happened and expressed confidence that the upcoming trial would reveal pertinent details favoring his client.
The decision to try the four defendants together seems to mark a change in strategy, as earlier reports suggested Govan would be tried separately from the alleged triggermen, Smith and Justin Johnson. This collective trial follows the defense counsel's motion to move the trial date to allow more time for expert review, a move prosecutors agreed with. With the trial fast approaching, the defense promises revelations that could cast the case in a new light. "We are looking forward to bringing this to an end because I think the public needs to really know what happened," Durham Jr. told WREG News Channel 3. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for September 9 ahead of the trial.
