Observers commenting on Day 25 of the YSL trial in Fulton County Superior Court are not impressed with the prosecution’s case against rapper Young Thug and his co-defendants.
The prosecution spent most of its time examining various posts on X (formerly Twitter). It brought a police gang-crimes investigator to decode messages and pictures of several young men that prosecutors say sport tattoos identifying them as gang members. They say that Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and two other people started a violent criminal street gang in 2012 called Young Slime Life, or YSL, and they have endeavored to tie them to the national Bloods gang. The indictment says Young Thug “made YSL a well-known name by referring to it in his songs and on social media.”
Much of the recent proceedings has been spent contending over scores of tweets from the rapper and his alleged associates, which the state has asserted connects Young Thug to gang activity and violence. The defense has countered that the tweets were a “stream of consciousness” that the prosecution was trying to incorrectly connect to each other.
Here’s an excerpt from the posts from those watching the live coverage of the trial:
“FLA BOI 813: They trying to convict this man off tweets I thought you had to have crimes being committed to bring a case against someone.”
“S: The Defense has no defense with this judge”
“Mel Smith: So basically, the defense can’t put on a defense.”
“RoJem Paints: Judge is trying to help the state as much as possible.”
“valorie: The has no case [sic] wats so ever I would sue the state and judge for all this time wasted”
“Sj blossom: Where’s the big drug raid or murder…. what’s the heck is the state doing?”
Williams’ attorney, Brian Steel, has continually objected to the prosecution’s entire approach and drew a stern warning from Judge Ural Glanville regarding how he phrased his objections. “Mr. Steel, would you stop?” the judge said. When Steel persisted, Glanville said, “Mr. Steel, I’m not going to warn you again.”
More comments from the online gallery:
“Tallglass: So they’re gonna be overruled and overrule and overrule”
“badsinnoeka: I hope people are realizing just how unjust and unfair our justice system is. Judges that used to be prosecutors, cops with extreme prejudice, and D.A. Needing vonvictions [sic] all working together”
Young Thug’s lawyers have said in multiple court filings that the rapper is innocent of all charges, arguing that YSL is simply a record label. Williams has pleaded not guilty.
Day 26 of the trial is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. EST.
