Hernandez Govan, one of the defendants in the high-profile Young Dolph murder case, walked free this week after a jury acquitted him on all charges. The verdict came quickly—jurors deliberated for less than two hours before clearing him, a result his defense team says highlights how weak the prosecution’s case had been from the start.
While Govan expressed relief over finally regaining his freedom after nine months behind bars, he also made it clear that he’s done with Memphis. “Leave Memphis,” Govan told reporters when asked what advice he’d give others facing similar struggles. When pressed on whether he planned to take his own advice, his response was simple: “Of course.”
For Govan, the acquittal feels like a second chance. “It’s kind of hard to explain the feeling of getting your life back,” he said. “I just feel like I’ve been born again and I get a chance to restart my life and do some positive things.” His first priority, he added, is to hold his son—a moment he’s been waiting for since the day he was locked up.
Govan’s attorneys were outspoken after the verdict, criticizing the Shelby County District Attorney’s office and local media for portraying their client as a “mastermind” without evidence. They argued that the case reflects larger systemic problems, particularly for poor Black defendants in Memphis who struggle to mount a fair defense. “If you’re Black and poor in Memphis, you got a problem,” one attorney said.
Source: ABC 24
