This is what happened this week in the trial against Young Thug and YSL

ATLANTA — This week, jurors in the ongoing RICO trial against rapper Young Thug and several co-defendants returned to the courtroom after weeks of delays. Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, a key prosecution witness, remained a central focus of the case as he resumed testimony.

Prosecutors played several hours of recordings of previous police interviews with Lil Woody. In the interviews, he provided detailed information about the 2015 murder of Donovan “Nut” Thomas Jr. and other alleged crimes involving YSL members, including Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams.

These recordings, which were played in full to the jury, were intended to provide context and clarity to Woody's earlier statements, but instead cast doubt on the credibility of his earlier testimony. When Woody testified in court, he frequently claimed he could not remember key details, often saying, “I don't remember.” This was in stark contrast to what he had told police in interrogations, where he had been much more specific.

The jury must now decide whether Lil Woody's memory problems really exist or whether he is deliberately trying to weaken the prosecution's evidence.

Trial resumes with new judge after long delay

After a nearly six-week break, the YSL RICO trial of rapper Young Thug resumed on Monday, marking a significant turnaround with the introduction of new presiding judge Paige Reese Whitaker. The trial, which had been plagued by interruptions and delays, was taken over by Judge Whitaker after Judge Ural Glanville was dismissed. In her opening remarks, Judge Whitaker addressed the jury, explained the changes, and instructed them to disregard any testimony or evidence presented after the afternoon session on June 12. This was a critical step in ensuring the fairness of the proceedings, as it effectively brought the jury's focus back to the facts of the case. Whitaker's presence and instructions aimed to bring order and continuity back to the trial, already the longest in Georgia history.

Suspension of lawyer disrupts proceedings

The trial ran into another obstacle on Tuesday when Lil Woody's attorney, Jonathan Melnick, was unexpectedly suspended from the practice of law. The suspension, which stemmed from unrelated matters related to a 2017 child support case, left Lil Woody without legal counsel. When Lil Woody learned of the suspension, he refused to continue his testimony, citing the need for legal counsel. This development forced Judge Whitaker to send the jury home for the day while the court rushed to find replacement counsel. The sudden suspension not only disrupted the flow of the trial, but also added another layer of complexity as the court had to navigate the logistical challenges of ensuring Lil Woody's rights were protected without further delaying the proceedings.

Lil Woody explains why he accused Young Thug

The trial quickly turned to the testimony of Kenneth Copeland, known as Lil Woody, whose statements became a central part of the case. On Monday, Lil Woody took the stand and immediately began retracting previous statements to law enforcement, claiming he lied to protect himself and his family. He admitted to falsely accusing Young Thug of various crimes, a revelation that prompted the defense to file a motion to dismiss the case. However, Judge Whitaker denied the motion and allowed the trial to continue.

Lil Woody's erratic testimony, in which he often claimed not to remember key details, raised significant doubts about his credibility as a witness. His claims that he misled investigators to avoid personal consequences introduced complex dynamics to the case and called into question the prosecution's narrative.

Donovan “Nut” Thomas murder case reopened

As the week progressed, the focus of the trial shifted to the 2015 murder of Donovan “Nut” Thomas Jr., a pivotal event in the case against Young Thug and other alleged YSL members. Lil Woody's testimony was central to this phase of the trial, as prosecutors pressed him to reveal details about his knowledge of the murder. But his answers were inconsistent and at times evasive.

He initially claimed the murder had nothing to do with YSL, but later suggested that another person, whom he described as a “threat,” may have been involved. These conflicting statements added to the uncertainty in the case and challenged the jury to determine the truth from a witness whose credibility was increasingly being questioned.

Lil Woody releases song amid witness testimony and causes controversy

In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, Lil Woody released a song on Wednesday titled “I Don't Recall,” which directly references his testimony in court. The song's lyrics reflect his repeated use of the phrase “I don't remember” during cross-examination, during which he often claimed to have forgotten key details of the case.

The song's release sparked widespread debate over whether Lil Woody was attempting to capitalize on the attention his testimony received or whether it was a true reflection of his experiences on the stand. This move blurred the lines between his role as a witness and his identity as a public figure, complicating the course of the trial and further undermining his credibility as a key prosecution witness.

Upcoming timetable changes

Judge Whitaker told jurors they would have all of next week (August 19-23), August 29 and 30, Labor Day, Veterans Day, November 27-29, and December 23 through January 1 off. She expressed hope to have the case concluded by the holiday season.

Next week, attorneys will be in the courtroom while the jury is absent to resolve the issues and review pending motions.