Prosecution ends in case against 2 remaining defendants in Young Thug trial
After almost a year of testimony, prosecutors in Atlanta rested their case against the two remaining defendants in a gang and racketeering trial that had included rapper Young Thug before he pleaded guilty
ATLANTA (AP) — After almost a year of testimony in a sweeping gang and racketeering indictment against Young Thug and an initial other 27 defendants, prosecutors rested their case Tuesday in the longest trial in Georgia's history.
Both Deamonte Kendrick, also known as Yak Gotti, and Shannon Stillwell told the judge Tuesday they would not testify in their own defense. Both earlier rejected plea offers after over a week of negotiation.
Defense lawyers indicated that they would ask Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker to direct the jury to issue a verdict of not guilty against Kendrick and Stillwell on Wednesday, which requires the lawyers to argue that no reasonable person could find that the state had proved Kendrick and Stillwell guilty.
If Whitaker rejects the request for a directed verdict, lawyers are also likely Wednesday to argue about instructions to jurors about what they must find to convict Kendrick and Stillwell.
