Young Thug trial derailed after juror faces exposed: Live

Drama after jurors’ faces captured on camera

Photos, as captured by one of the streaming services, revealed jurors’ faces. Now some social media accounts are reposting that snapshot.

Update on an ever-delayed trial

What has happened today at the YSL trial?

Detective Mark Belknap took the stand. He is a detective in the Atlanta Police Department’s gang unit.

Mr Belknap started the morning by discussing gangs generally and how he has identified them, like through tattoos, symbols, and other communications.

In the afternoon, the detective testified that YSL is a gang. He clarified that “Young Stoner Life” is not the same entity as “Young Slime Life.”

He also gave insight into YSL, saying it was founded in late 2012, has over 100 members and associates, who often wear red and green bandanas and use the abbreviation “SLATT,” which stands for “slime life all the time” and frequently post snake emojis on social media.

The defence has made a number of objections, frequently interrupting the witness, but most of them were not sustained.

ICYMI: What Young Thug’s lawyer has said

The topic of the origins of YSL also came up. Mr Steel argued that “YSL” stemmed from the “YSL” logo on Yves Saint Laurent pants, coming in sharp contrast to the prosecution’s claim that YSL is a criminal enterprise that stands for “Young Slime Life.”

Mr Steel has also described the lyrics, a pressure point of this case, as being “art” and part of the rapper’s “freedom of speech.” Yesterday, Ms Love portrayed the lyrics as bearing “a very eerie significance to real life.”

Other lawyers made their opening remarks, telling the jurors that their clients were not guilty.

ICYMI: What happened on Monday

The trial began nearly an hour and a half behind schedule because a juror was late.

The prosecutor, Adriane Love, was finally able to begin her opening statements — but was stopped a few times with objections. Defence attorney Brian Steel made three objections to her opening statement, all of which were sustained.

The trial then came to a screeching halt when the jury was asked to leave the room and the defence team said that Ms Love hadn’t provided certain Powerpoint slides, which she was presenting to the jury, to the defence ahead of the trial, prompting Mr Steel to motion for a mistrial. The motion was denied.

After the court returned from lunch, the judge snapped at attorneys from both sides for having “wasted two hours.”

Finally, Ms Love resumed her opening statement.

Prosecutor Adriane Love asked the expert witness, “In your opinion, Young Slime Life is a criminal street gang?”

Detective Mark Belknap replied: Yes ma’am.

YSL’s ties to other gangs, according to an expert witness

30 Deep gang was based in the Mechanicsville neighbourhood and consisted of over 100 members, according to the detective. This gang was affiliated with YSL, ROC, and Goodfellas gangs, Detective Belknap added.

He said 30 Deep was identifiable by its distinctive hand signs, red bandanas, graffiti, and tattoos.

Detective discusses YSL identifiers

Mr Belknap discussed some identifiers often associated with YSL, which he called a street gang.

He described a hand sign that depicts the letters Y, S, and L with fingers. The detective also talked about another hand sign in which one’s index finger sits under one’s nose.

He also said certain tattoos and clothes, like a hoodie or a hat that includes “Slime” on it.

The word “SLATT,” which apparently stands for “slime life all the time,” is often seen in graffiti and tattoos.

Detective laid out roots of YSL

Detective Belknap described what he discovered about YSL:

• it was founded in late 2012
• it has over 100 members and associates
• many YSL members previously claimed to be members of ROC crew
• it used red and green bandanas
• “SLATT” [ slime life all the time] and snake emojis were often used by its members and assoicates
• its sometimes referred to the group as “Rudy Gang” after a member who died named Rudy
• a rivalry between Inglewood Family gang, which Donovan Thomas was allegedly a part of
• he said “Young Stoner Life” is not the same entity as “Young Slime Life”

Who are the 28 codefendants?

1. Kahlieff Adams A/K/A Bobby Hunt
2. Martinez Arnold A/K/A Duke
3. Derontae Bebee A/K/A Bee A/K/A B
4. Damone Blalock A/K/A Bali
5. Javaris Bradford A/K/A Tuda‘
6. Justin Cobb A/K/A Duwap
7. Cordarius Dorsey A/K/A Polo A/K/A Juicy
8. Christian Eppinger A/K/A Bhris
9. Miles Farley A/K/A Slato A/K/A Lil Miles
10. Jevon Fleetwood A/K/A 4tray A/K/A Psycho
11. Damekion Garlington A/K/A Dee A/K/A Sxarfaxe
12. Quantavious Grier A/K/A Unfoonk
13. Marquavius Huey A/K/A Qua
14. Deamonte Kendrick A/K/A Yak Gotti
15. Sergio Kitchens A/K/A Gunna
16. W U Nnie Lee A/K/A Slimelife Shawty
17. Demise Mcmullen A/K/A Nard
18. Tenquarius Mender A/K/A Nard A/K/A Stunna
19. Walter Murphy A/K/A Dk
20. Jayden Myricka/K/A Settrip A/K/A Jayman
21. Quamarvious Nichols A/K/A Qua
22. Rodalius Ryan A/K/A Lil Rod
23. Antonio Sledge A/K/A Mounk Tounk
24. Trontavious Stephens A/K/A Tick A/K/A Slug
25. Shannon Stillwell A/K/A Shannon Jackson A/K/A Sb
26. Antonio Sumlin A/K/A Obama
27. Jeffery Williamsa/K/A Young Thug A/K/A Slime
28. Jimmy Winfrey A/K/A Roscoe