Suspects accused of murdering Young Dolph must appear in court in murder trial

The three men accused of murder Young Dolph nearly three years ago, will finally face a jury when his murder trial officially begins.

Accordingly FOX13 MemphisJustin Johnson will be the first defendant to go on trial on Monday, September 23. The 24-year-old is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder, illegal carrying and possession of a firearm, and theft. Hernandez Govan, the alleged mastermind of the murder, is scheduled to go on trial tomorrow, followed by the third suspect, 32-year-old Cornelius Smith. The three suspects are accused of murdering Young Dolph in his hometown.

Prosecutors say Govan recruited Johnson and Smith to carry out the murder. The two men drove to Makeda's Homemade Cookies on Nov. 17, 2021, and fired fatal shots into the store while Dolph was inside. Johnson and Smith escaped in a stolen Mercedes-Benz after the shooting. A fourth suspect, Jermarcus Johnson – Justin's half-brother – helped Johnson elude police. Jermarcus Johnson will not stand trial after pleading guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in October 2023. He faces six to 12 years in prison.

The three remaining suspects were originally scheduled to go on trial earlier this year on March 11, but the trial was postponed until June 3. In May, the defense asked for more time so that all experts could review all the information in the case. A judge agreed and set the new trial date for September 23. The jury was finally confirmed last Friday after a judge granted a request to change the venue because the case had received so much media attention. All jurors will be bused from Nashville to Memphis to hear the case.

The trial is expected to last several days. If convicted, all three defendants face life in prison without parole. Watch the trial live below.