The trial has officially begun for Hernandez Govan, the man prosecutors say orchestrated the killing of Memphis rapper Adolph Thornton Jr., better known as Young Dolph. Nearly three years after the rapper’s tragic death, Govan walked into Judge Jennifer Johnson Mitchell’s courtroom on the first day of proceedings, joined by his defense team.
Inside the courtroom, a jury of 12 men and women, along with four alternates, were sworn in to ultimately decide Govan’s fate. He faces charges of murder and conspiracy in connection to the fatal shooting, which prosecutors argue he planned by allegedly recruiting multiple gunmen to carry out the attack.
During opening statements, prosecutors told jurors that Govan made a deliberate choice to target the beloved rapper, emphasizing that their case would show he was the driving force behind the plot. The defense countered by urging the jury to scrutinize the evidence closely and hold the state accountable to prove its claims beyond a reasonable doubt.
The trial, expected to last several days, has already seen testimony from key witnesses. Cornelius Smith, one of the men accused of being among the shooters, took the stand as a witness for the state. With court still in session, the city of Memphis and Young Dolph’s supporters continue to wait for answers and justice in a case that has deeply shaken the hip-hop community.
Source: YouTube
