They just didnt know how wild and unprecedented those headlines would get.
With courtroom cameras rolling, the case would give rise to the longest criminal trial in state history.
Williams vehemently denies the charges but has been in jail since his May 2022 arrest.
Young Thug and his lawyer, Brian Steel, watch Judge Ural Glanville speak during the hearing of key witness Kenneth Copeland on June 10.Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP
His lawyer, Brian Steel, has called his indictment unconscionable and unconstitutional.
On Thursday, June 13, Steel called the high-profile prosecution an authoritarian absurdity.
This is like communist Russia.
Who is Young Thug?
1(with Rich Homie Quan), 2015sBarter 6, 2016sJeffery, and many more.
Nine other defendants previously reached plea deals with prosecutors.
A dozen more had their cases severed into separate proceedings.
Kendrick and Stillwell are specifically charged with the murder of Donovan Nut Thomas Jr. in 2015.
Stillwell is further charged with the 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks.
Its a high number for any trial, but not even half of the names on prosecutors whittled-down list.
Initially the state said it had737 potential witnesses.
The astronomical number was later slashed to closer to 400 and now hovers around 200.
How did each side frame the case in opening statements?
She recited rap lyrics attributed to Williams, claiming they referenced real events, something that Williams lawyers deny.
(Judge Glanville previously ruledlyrics could be used as evidence.)
We didnt chase the lyrics to solve the murders.
The high-profile lawyer hailed Williams for surmounting the generational harms of institutional racism and becoming a world-renowned artist.
He worked so hard.
Hes not running this criminal street gang, Steel said.
He is not sitting there telling people to kill people.
He doesnt need their money.
Jeffery is worth tens of millions of dollars.
The defense lawyer added that Williams doesnt even know most of the people in this indictment.
Who are some notable witnesses so far?
His deal required him to testify truthfully.
On the stand, Murphy was evasive.
Prosecutors grilled him over an April 2015 shooting at an Atlanta Citgo gas station.
Victim Dexter Montgomery wasshot in the head but survived.
Prosecutors showed surveillance images of Murphy with an assault rifle at the Citgo.
Murphy confirmed he pleaded guilty to his role in the shooting.
Did Jeffery (Williams) ever ask you or instruct you to commit a crime?
Steel asked on April 15.
No, Murphy responded.
Under direct examination by Love, Stephens told jurors he co-founded YSL with Williams and Murphy.
Under cross-examination by Steel, Stephens told jurors that Williams offered him jobs to get him off the streets.
Stephens testified that he wanted instant money, so he committed crimes instead.
He encouraged me to stop selling drugs,Stephens said of Williams.
Instead, he led to pandemonium.
When his testimony resumed, it was numbingly evasive.
Over several days, he was questioned about the January 2015 drive-by shooting of Donovan Nut Thomas.
According to prosecutors, Thomas was the leader of a rival gang called Inglewood Family.
He claimed he wasnt truthful in prior interviews.
I was saying whatever they wanted me to say, he testified.
Steel said he was worried it amounted to coercion.
Thats when he compared the treatment to communist Russia.
The judge replied, Intimidation?…I dont see that.
Judge Glanville denied the motion but agreed to release a transcript of the meeting to the defense.
What happened with Brian Steels contempt charge?
Steel told the court he was worried Copeland was threatened with more jail time during the meeting.
Judge Glanville was more concerned with how Steel found out about the secret meeting.
Steel refused to give up his source.
On his way out of the courtroom in custody, he asked for a mistrial.
Mr. Williams does not wish to go forward without me being here.
You are removing me against his will and my will.
Judge Glanville denied the motion and ordered Steel to spend 10 weekends in jail as punishment.
Steel asked to spend the time bunking with Williams so they could work on his case.
Brian found out about [the meeting], and it concerned him greatly.
Steel and Adams said Judge Glanvilles claim was not only false but amounted to witness intimidation and coercive pressure.
The lawyers further faulted Glanville for telling Copeland his immunity agreement protected him from prosecution.
In reality, Copeland received only use immunity, not transactional immunity, they said.
(A spokesperson for Fulton County said Georgias code of judicial conduct barred Judge Glanville from commenting.)
What happened withJudge Glanvilles recusal?
Krause ordered the Fulton County clerk to reassign the trial to another judge.
By Monday evening, the trial docket said the case had been given toJudge Shakura L. Ingram.
The case is now in the hands of Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.
Whats happening now that Judge Whitaker is at the helm?
She asked for revised witness lists and warned she would be scrutinizing them for wasteful overlap.
This case has been going on for a really long time, she said.
There is a rule that lets me exclude cumulative evidence, and I might end up using that.
She then issued a general warning.
Im here to give everybody a fair trial, a fair shake, and follow the law.
(Love and Hylton did not respond for a request for comment on the motion.)
What have been some other notable moments in the trial?
Issues with pay for the public defender representing Rodalius Ryan have been another recurring theme.
Shetold WSB-TVshe was considering starting an OnlyFans account as a side hustle to make ends meet.
She reportedly was set to make only $15,000 for her work on the entire trial.
