mistrial Archives - New Hip Hop News

Jam Master Jay Trial Judge Denies Defense’s Motion For Mistrial

February 9, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The trial for the murder of Jam Master Jay over 20 years ago is ramping up at a steady pace, with witness testimonies, questioning, and more evidence. However, according to the Associated Press, it seems like it overcame its first major speed bump recently, as the defense motioned for a mistrial and alleged that the prosecution exhibited misconduct. Moreover, these accusations relate to prosecutors’ questioning of a witness, which defense attorneys believe planted “a seed of prejudice” in the proceeding. As the court discussed this on Thursday (February 8), the judge realized that, regardless, they could still stay on track.

Furthermore, Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall denied the defense’s motion for mistrial in New York on Thursday. While she chastised the prosecution for their lines of questioning, she let the trial go on as planned and believe it won’t affect the outcome of the case. What’s more is that Hall even told the jury to ignore prosecutors’ questions and focus solely on the main point at hand: the murder of Jam Master Jay. Previously, she ruled that lyrics will not be admissible as evidence in this trial, Many saw as a solid victory no matter the verdict, given the controversy surrounding this practice.

Jam Master Jay In 2001

Jam Master Jay Murder Trial Mistrial Denied Hip Hop News — Jam Master Jay of Run DMC performs on stage at the Respect Festival, Finsbury Park, London, United Kingdom, 2001. (Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)

For those unaware, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington are accused of carrying out the crime back in 2002. Washington’s ex-girlfriend Daynia McDonald testified on Thursday, adding to other emotional testimonies in the Jam Master Jay trial. She stated that Washington “basically said yes” when asked whether he was involved in the crime, and this is when the prosecution’s questioning got them in hot water. “Did he say he killed Jam Master Jay? Did he say that people get what they deserve?” they reportedly asked, which prompted the defense to claim misconduct. Nevertheless, McDonald endorsed both sentiments, and while the jury was out of the courtroom, Judge Hall reprimanded the prosecutors.

When the jury returned, she allowed for them to ask McDonald whether Washington “said anything else about [the] murder,” and she responded with “He just said that he killed him.” For what it’s worth, prosecutors claimed that witnesses would like out of fear of retaliation. So far at press time, nothing emerged to suggest that there were inconsistencies or faults in these testimonies. For more news and the latest updates on the Jam Master Jay trial, stay up to date on HNHH.

[via]

The post Jam Master Jay Trial Judge Denies Defense’s Motion For Mistrial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YSL RICO Trial UPDATE: [WATCH] Person Screams “Free Thug! Mistrial!” After Hacking YSL RICO Trial Zoom Call

January 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Unconventional antics continue in the YSL RICO trial on day 16 when an unknown person hacked into the court’s Zoo m call and repeatedly yelled, “Free Thug, mistrial! Free Thug, mistrial!”

Someone hacked the zoom recording and yelled “free Thug, mistrial!” during the YSL RICO court hearing this morning.pic.twitter.com/TEo9HFbc4x

— Complex (@Complex) January 10, 2024

Journalist Meghann commented on the sudden outburst advocating for Thug, saying, “To be Clear: There was NOT a mistrial. It would take a lot more than someone yelling “mistrial” for there to actually be a mistral, even if jurors did hear that. (Which they may have).” She added, “Also, it’s basically a sure thing that if there were to be a mistrial (there won’t), the prosecutors will re-try everyone. The rally cry really should be ‘Free Thug! Not guilty!’ or ‘Free Thug! Acquit!’ Jurors cannot call mistrials, and the judge isn’t going to take advice.”

The post YSL RICO Trial UPDATE: [WATCH] Person Screams “Free Thug! Mistrial!” After Hacking YSL RICO Trial Zoom Call first appeared on The Source.

The post YSL RICO Trial UPDATE: [WATCH] Person Screams “Free Thug! Mistrial!” After Hacking YSL RICO Trial Zoom Call appeared first on The Source.

Young Thug RICO Trial Judge “Very Angry” In Court, Mistrial Rumblings Begin

November 29, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Young Thug’s eagerly-anticipated RICO trial is finally underway, however, it may not be for much longer. According to Law & Crime‘s Cathy Russon, Judge Ural Glanville, who’s overseeing the trial, recently got upset in the courtroom. “Judge Glanville appeared very angry and called all attorneys back in chambers,” she Tweeted earlier today. “Working to get more information but murmurs about a mistrial. Stand by!”

While it remains unclear what upset him, there’s been some chatter online surrounding the media accidentally showing jurors’ faces in footage from the trial. This has resulted in images of the jurors floating around, which obviously pose a serious security risk. Young Thug has already been awaiting trial for quite some time now, with several delays surrounding the jury selection process. If Judge Glanville chooses to rule this a mistrial, the rapper will stay behind bars awaiting his next trial, and the process will restart.

Delays Could Continue In Young Thug’s Case

BREAKING: Judge Glanville appeared very angry and called all attorneys back in chambers. Working to get more information but murmurs about a mistrial. Stand by! #YoungThug #YSL

— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) November 29, 2023

Russon’s news follows Young Thug’s request for a mistrial on the first day of the trial. Judge Glanville swiftly denied the request. His attorney Brian Steel accused prosecutors of intentional misconduct, noting how they failed to provide the defense with slides from their opening statement. Judge Glanville eventually had jurors leave the courtroom to get the situation sorted, calling out the prosecution for their lack of preparation. He got frustrated at the time as well due to ongoing delays.

Young Thug’s attorney continues to get attention amid the trial for his compelling, and arguably amusing, arguments. Earlier this week, Steel argued that the name of Young Thug’s 2022 track with Gunna and Future, “Pushin P,” actually stands for “pushing positivity.” What do you think of reports that Judge Ural Glanville got upset in court today? How about the possibility that he could rule this a mistrial? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

[Via]

The post Young Thug RICO Trial Judge “Very Angry” In Court, Mistrial Rumblings Begin appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Young Thug’s Mistrial Motion Denied During Chaotic First Day Of Trial

November 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

After months of jury selection and more than a year and a half behind bars, Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial finally began earlier today. The trial is streaming online and thousands of fans are tuning in to follow the twists and turns as the rap star’s fate is decided. Before opening statements could even get underway today, however, there was already drama.

Thug’s attorney Brian Steel accused the prosecution of intentional misconduct after they failed to provide the defense with the text slides in their opening statement. The judge was forced to excuse the jurors from the courtroom while the situation was sorted out. While the judge did chastise the prosecution for not turning over all of their slides he ultimately declined Steel’s move for a mistrial. The judge clearly wasn’t happy with either the prosecution or the defense for delays in the trial. Check out the most recent updates in the Young Thug case as they happen below.

Young Thug’s Trial Off To A Rocky Start

Even though the trial itself just started today, there’s already been months of drama for fans to sift through. A few weeks ago the judge officially ruled that lyrics from various Young Thug songs will be allowed as evidence in the trial. The decision was largely unpopular with fans and fellow rappers. Subsequently many, like Meek Mill and Killer Mike spoke out against it. Rap lyrics being used in trials has been a hot topic for years. Some states are even moving to pass laws forbidding them from being used as evidence. Unfortunately for Thug, they’re allowed in Georgia where he’s on trial.

There was also more friction between lawyers and judges during the pre-trial process. The judge in the case had to administer a warning to Thug’s lawyer. It came after he called one particular witness evaluation a “farce.” It was just one of many issues the judge had with lawyers leading up to the trial. What do you think of interruptions already taking place in the YSL RICO trial even on the very first day? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Via]

The post Young Thug’s Mistrial Motion Denied During Chaotic First Day Of Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Young Thug Requests Mistrial In YSL RICO Case

November 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Day one of the Young Thug and YSL RICO trial already got off to a pretty wild and contentious start. Moreover, during the prosecution’s opening statements, in which they presented some PowerPoint slides, Thug’s attorney Brian Steele interrupted- which reporter Meghan Cuniff noted is bizarre for legal proceedings- and called for a mistrial in this case. This is due to his claim that the information in these slides wasn’t disclosed, and the defense lawyer said that these revelations were barred in court. All this is according to Cuniff, who added that the District Attorney’s team acknowledged that they messed up by proposing a curative jury instruction. Of course, they still objected to a mistrial motion.

Furthermore, Cuniff also quoted a prosecutor in the Young Thug trial whose inflammatory take provided objection. “‘What you will not hear any evidence of is that the defendants were not involved in a criminal street gang,’” she wrote. “Unreal burden shifting from a prosecutor here. Stunning that she said this and seemed surprised when there was an objection. ‘If that’s the case, then she’s just lying to the court.’” It’s unclear who the journalist quoted with that last sentence, but we can assume it’s the defense’s opposition to the prosecutor.

Young Thug’s Lawyer Brian Steele Keeps Pushing For Mistrial: See Updates

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

However, this isn’t a win on either side, as the court denied previous motions to dismiss this case and no one is any happier with what prosecutors have been doing. As such, it’s harder than ever to tell what will happen with this case moving forward, which is ironic considering that it’s finally underway after so long. What’s most worrisome about these developments, though, is how they obfuscate what Young Thug and YSL’s tru culpability is in all this. With so many differing procedures, contested approaches, and lack of informational organization, it’s clear that both sides are struggling to reckon with the breadth, scope, and visibility of this case.

Regardless, this rocky start to this RICO trial prompted many to look back at what happened with Thugger and YSL up until this point. There’s a lot to sum up and consider, without even accounting for the details and developments that didn’t make it to the media cycle. Nevertheless, hopefully this trial aims to concern itself with the evidence and the arguments at hand in a clear, fair, equitable, and effective way for the sake of all those involved. On that note, stay up to date on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Young Thug and the YSL RICO trial.

The post Young Thug Requests Mistrial In YSL RICO Case appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YNW Melly & His Lawyers Believe Jury Selection Could Take Weeks Amid Motion To Dismiss Case

September 28, 2023 by newhiphopnews

YNW Melly is currently in the midst of legal turmoil. After his first double murder trial ended in a mistrial, a second trial was set for October. Overall, the judge has shown every intention of marching forward with the aforementioned trial. However, Melly’s legal team is doing everything it can to ensure his freedom. For instance, they recently filed for a dismissal of the entire case, claiming “prosecutorial misconduct.” It is a long shot, however, it is in line with the legal team’s strategy thus far.

Yesterday, Melly and his lawyers were back in court to discuss the trial. Jury selection will start on October 9th, as long as the case is not dismissed. That said, an attorney for Melly, Stuart Adelstein, believes that this might be a very messy endeavor. He thinks jury selection will take a very long time, which cuts into Melly’s right for a quick trial. “We’ll be lucky to pick a jury before Thanksgiving,” Adelstein said.

YNW Melly Forced To Play Waiting Game

As for the “prosecutorial misconduct,” Melly’s lawyers believe Detective Mark Moretti was being helped by the prosecution. More specifically, they allegedly hid internal and criminal investigations against Moretti. “The unfortunate stark reality is that the State intentionally withheld this information that would impeach Detective Moretti in order to gain a tactical advantage and to violate Mr. Demons’ due process rights as guaranteed by both the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the parallel provisions of the Florida Constitution,” the lawyers said.

At this point, it feels like this is a saga that has been going on for at least a decade. However, it has actually only been going on since 2018, which is still a very long time. Let us know your thoughts on the trial and the legal proceedings, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always keep you informed.

[Via]

The post YNW Melly & His Lawyers Believe Jury Selection Could Take Weeks Amid Motion To Dismiss Case appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YNW Melly Once Again Denied Bond As New Trial Date Approaches

September 22, 2023 by newhiphopnews

YNW Melly hasn’t been home since 2019. That’s when the rapper was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. The charges spawned from the death of two of his friends back in 2017. The resulting legal proceedings have unwound very slowly with his actual trial not taking place until earlier this year. That trial ultimately ended with a mistrial declaration due to a hung jury. How split they actually were is still up for debate among fans. The prosecution quickly agreed to try Melly for a second time and a date was scheduled for October 7th.

Now according to No Jumper, Melly’s attempt to spend the time between now and the start of the trial at home has fallen short. After making his case for bond to be allowed to return home for the first time in 4 years, he was ultimately denied. That means he will remain in police custody for the next few weeks until his second trial begins. Many have taken issue with the police treatment of Melly. His stay in police custody has been extended to 4 years without being convicted of a crime. After the way the first trial unfolded it’s very much still up in the air what will happen in Melly’s second double murder trial.

YNW Melly Denied Bond Again

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by No Jumper (@nojumper)

There may have been a contributing factor to Melly’s bond eventually being denied. The mother of one of the two victims in the shooting Melly is accused of asked the judge personally to deny his bond. “I don’t think he should be granted a bond at all,” she stated in court.

Since the first mistrial was declared some pretty interesting information has come out. Melly’s ex-girlfriend claimed that police threatened to arrest her in order to get her to give up information on Melly during the investigation. What do you think of YNW Melly being denied bond yet again? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Via]

The post YNW Melly Once Again Denied Bond As New Trial Date Approaches appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YNW Melly Tells Family “I’m Coming Home” During Recent Court Appearance

August 4, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The drama surrounding YNW Melly and his long-running courtroom drama has taken yet another turn. A few weeks ago the judge in the case declared a mistrial after the jury couldn’t come to a definitive verdict. In the weeks since the prosecution made it clear that they would be seeking out a mistrial. Late last week that paperwork was formerly filed and the date for Melly’s next trial was set. The second trial is officially set to begin on October 2nd, a full five years after the shooting Melly is on trial for.

Now it appears YNW Melly may know something we don’t. In a recent court appearance cameras caught Melly mouthing a message to his family. That message is “I’m coming home,” which carries some massive implications despite its brevity. It’s unclear exactly what Melly meant but fans online began speculating immediately. Melly is retaining his legal team from the first trial for the second one. Perhaps he is confident that with a second time around they will have an even stronger defense that can result in an innocent plea. You can watch the short clip of Melly’s message below.

YNW Melly’s Message To Family

#YNWMellyTrial2: @YNWMelly grins and says, “I’m coming home” to family in the gallery as he leaves the courtroom. #ynwmelly #melly #ynwmellytrial pic.twitter.com/XfuEC0rBBi

— Bryson “Boom” Paul (@brysonboompaul) August 4, 2023

In the wake of the mistrial being declared stories began to leak out to the public on how it went down. Initially, YNW Melly’s mother claimed that the jury came down 9-3 in favor of Melly, leading to a mistrial. Later a reporter who has been covering the case disputed the claim and insisted that the jury was hung on a 6-6 split tie.

Later on, one juror spoke publicly about the proceedings and had a very different take. “From day one, she had issues with the foreperson selected, at one point crossing her arms and saying she was ‘Done!’ When another juror asked to not shut down and set her feelings aside, she exploded. She was explosive, manipulative, she was rude, she yelled insults at anyone who had a different opinion. She was there to cause chaos,” the juror explained. What do you think of YNW Melly’s newest message to his family? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Via]

The post YNW Melly Tells Family “I’m Coming Home” During Recent Court Appearance appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YNW Melly Jury: One Woman’s Hesitation To Convict Reportedly Lead To Mistrial

August 2, 2023 by newhiphopnews

After watching endless chaos unfold during YNW Melly’s double murder trial earlier this summer, the Florida native was surprisingly granted a mistrial. His attorneys attempted to motion for one earlier on in proceedings and were ultimately denied. However, the jury’s failure to come to a consensus led the presiding judge to rule in Melly’s favour. Of course, this doesn’t mean he’s walking free. Rather, prosecutors will be re-trying the case again in the fall. An October court date was already set at the end of July.

Many who have been keeping up with the trial are curious as to know exactly what happened with the jury behind closed doors. Thankfully, Local 10 News finally has some answers. According to them, the majority of members were on board with convicting Melly. However, one woman in particular held her ground on defending the accused killer. “From day one, she had issues with the foreperson selected, at one point crossing her arms and saying she was ‘Done!’” another juror recalled to the outlet.

Read More: YNW Melly Trial To Begin In October

YNW Melly’s First Jury Couldn’t Come to an Agreement

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RapTV (@rap)

“When another juror asked to not shut down and set her feelings aside, she exploded… She was explosive, manipulative, she was rude, she yelled insults at anyone who had a different opinion,” they further noted. Elsewhere, the anonymous source claimed the same woman was there specifically “to cause chaos.” The next group of jurors selected to hold Melly’s fate in their hands will obviously be different, though it’s possible we could see the same final outcome take place later this year.

Throughout the first YNW Melly trial, his mother, Jamie King, made frequent headlines for her comments on social media. In the midst of proceedings, she claimed that the stress she’s experienced while watching her son potentially face the death penalty gave her a heart attack. After a mistrial was declared last month, she also spoke out online. Read what King had to say at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

[Via]

The post YNW Melly Jury: One Woman’s Hesitation To Convict Reportedly Lead To Mistrial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.