Because several of the defendants in the case lacked court-appointed attorneys, prosecutors filed a motion to delay the trial until March. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Fulton County Judge Ural Glanville rejected the motion at a hearing on Thursday and declared that jury selection will start on January 5.
The fact that the majority of these defendants lack bonds “weigh strongly on the court with regard to a start date for this trial,” according to Glanville. “They should be allowed to go to trial,”
In a courtroom broadcast, the two were visible from solitary confinement as the judge delivered the verdict.
Gunna and Young Thug in court today 🙏‼️ pic.twitter.com/i6YqaLJZuE
— RapTV (@Rap) November 17, 2022
Lawyers for Young Thug argued that the prosecution should have prepared more public defense counsel and opposed the three-month postponement.
According to Brian Steel, who was quoted by Billboard, “It is wrong that Mr. Williams rots in the county jail and… is being forced to wait for the appointment of counsel for co-indictees.” “It’s been too long to hold a person in custody without a trial, without discovery, without the legal right to a quick trial, and without a bail,” the judge ruled.
In a 56-count RICO indictment, 28 people, including both rappers, are accused of participating in the Young Slime Life street gang, which is allegedly responsible for a number of crimes in the Atlanta area. Despite months of legal defense, their requests for pre-trial bond release have been continually denied due to allegations that they could intimate witnesses.
The hip-hop community as well as Kim Kardashian, who recently defended Gunna and claimed there is “zero evidence that he committed a crime,” have backed them.
Both Gunna and Thug received Grammy nominations this week for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “pushin P” as they are awaiting trial.
