ATLANTA — Jury deliberations are now taking place in Atlanta following a lengthy trial involving serious gang-related allegations, which included prominent rapper Young Thug. The focus has shifted to defendants Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, known in the music world as Yak Gotti, who are facing grave charges that include gang activity, murder, drug offenses, and illegal possession of firearms.
Originally, 28 individuals were indicted for allegedly conspiring under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Just a month ago, four of these defendants entered guilty pleas, with Young Thug receiving probation as part of his agreement. In contrast, Stillwell and Kendrick decided against accepting plea deals after extensive discussions, opting not to present any evidence or call forth witnesses in their defense.
As deliberations commenced on Tuesday afternoon, both defendants displayed a light mood, chatting with their legal teams. The jury, after beginning their discussions, was dismissed at 5 p.m. and is expected to reconvene Wednesday morning. Should they fail to reach a verdict by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, they will break for Thanksgiving and return the following Monday.
The charges facing Kendrick and Stillwell are linked to a fatal incident in 2015 involving Donovan Thomas Jr., also recognized as “Big Nut,” who was killed in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors have portrayed both men as dangerous members of the Young Slime Life gang, which was co-founded by Young Thug in 2012. During closing arguments, prosecutors referenced various tattoos, lyrics, and online posts from Kendrick and Stillwell, suggesting that these served as admissions of guilt in violent acts against rival gang members.
Defense attorneys countered that the testimonies from witnesses were unreliable and that the evidence presented was flimsy, claiming it was selectively chosen to support a misleading narrative against their clients. They argued that many witnesses had previously admitted to lying, and suggested that investigations were mismanaged, imposing unjust consequences on individuals merely pursuing music as a way out of poverty.
The prosecutors held firm, arguing that those involved should be held accountable for their actions, especially when they flaunt their alleged crimes in their music.
This trial has experienced multiple delays, including lengthy jury selection that lasted almost ten months. Notably, Stillwell was involved in a violent incident last year while in jail, which further postponed proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has since taken over the case after the previous judge was removed for procedural missteps.
In October, among the defendants, Young Thug entered a blind plea, which means he didn’t have an agreement arranged with prosecutors beforehand. As the legal battle continues, the courtroom remains a tense environment, reflecting the serious nature of the charges and the lives impacted by the decisions made within this ongoing trial.
