Trial against Young Thug and YSL: State plans to close case against Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland on Friday

FULTON COUNTY, Georgia. – Prosecutors in the Fulton County case involving the Young Thug and YSL gangs plan to complete questioning of their key witness, Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, on Friday, according to statements released earlier this week.

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Copeland returned to the witness stand Monday after a lengthy delay due to the dismissal of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville. The judge was dismissed following a one-sided conference on June 10 that included Copeland, state prosecutors and the judge.

The case is now being heard by a new judge, Paige Reese Whitaker, who, along with attorneys for the state and defense, ruled that much of Copeland's earlier testimony should be thrown out because it came after the motion to dismiss Glanville was filed.

When asked if he would be willing to testify again in the case, Copeland replied, “That depends on how I wake up.”

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After finally agreeing to testify again, Copeland was less than cooperative. Most of his answers were variations of “I don't remember” or admissions that he had lied. Earlier this week, Copeland even released a single called “I Don't Recall,” glorifying the phrase he has used repeatedly over the past four days.

Over the past two days, the state has played many hours of Copeland's 2015 police interrogation, in which police pressed him for information about a series of crimes they believed were linked to a gang and its alleged mastermind, Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams).

On Thursday, it became clear that Copeland was growing tired of his role in the trial. As the videos were played, he was seen yawning and even nodding off. As he spoke, he repeatedly claimed he could not remember or was lying.

The jury will not be in the courtroom next week, but the lawyers, defendants and judge will be present. However, the trial does not begin until Monday and Tuesday at noon.

In addition, the jury is free for August 29-30, September 2, November 11, November 27-29 (Thanksgiving) and December 23-January 1 (holiday break).

Young Thug and 27 others were charged in 2022 for violating Georgia's RICO, or racketeering, law and committing multiple violent crimes. After the longest jury selection in history (10 months), a trial against Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) and several co-defendants began in November 2023. It is now the longest trial in Georgia history. Prosecutors are trying to prove that YSL (Young Slime Life) is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous crimes, including murder. The defendants claim that YSL stands for Young Stoner Life and is the name of a record label founded by Young Thug. Young Thug faces 8 criminal charges. The trial was marred by various disruptions, including illness, the arrest of a juror and an attorney, the stabbing of defendant Shannon Stillwell, the removal of the judge originally assigned to the case, and more.