Incarcerated rappers Young Thug and Gunna appear to be in good spirits according to newly-released jail photos, while the pair remain behind bars for much of the year as they await the results of their RICO case.
On Thursday (November 17), Young Thug and Gunna made appearances at court hearings, with both looking to be in good spirits, with Thugger even flashing a smile in what appears to be a zoom court conference call.
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According to Billboard, prosecutors had asked the judge to delay the trial for two months.
Judge Denies Prosecutors Request To Move Trial Date, With Jury Selection Scheduled For January 5
The trial is scheduled to begin in January, but prosecutors wanted it pushed back until March, arguing that 28 of the defendants had not yet obtained attorneys.
However, a judge ultimately denied their request, with jury selection reported to start on January 5.
Meanwhile, Thugger and Gunna have both petitioned for bond several times, and were denied on each occasion.
New pictures of Young Thug & Gunna in court today 🙏 pic.twitter.com/X45OWPLSQ7
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) November 17, 2022
The outlet also reports that there are not enough court-appointed lawyers to represent the large amounts of defendants in the case – 28 in total.
Gunna’s attorneys allegedly said they would be seeking a fourth bond hearing, with authorities claiming the two rappers are too dangerous to be released, having voiced concerns that they may threaten witnesses, according to Billboard.
Prosecutors Cite Rappers’ Violent Lyrics, Request To Use Them During Trial
Last month, Thug’s attorney Brian Steel told the court it was “unjust that (Thugger) rots in county jail,” and that it “has been too long to leave a human being in custody without trial.”
“It is unjust that Mr. Williams rots in the county jail and … is being required to wait on the appointment of counsel for co-indictees,” Young Thug’s attorney Brian Steel, stated back in October. “It has been too long to leave a human being in custody without trial, without discovery, without the statutory right to a speedy trial and without bond.”
Prosecutors have also cited the rappers’ violent lyrics, claiming Young Thug alluded to or outright confessed to crimes in his songs. While the state wants to use these lyrics as evidence, his famous colleagues are rallying against it.
State Intends On Calling Upwards Of 300 Witnesses, Which Will Take Months Of Testimony
Earlier this week, The Shade Room reported that the state intends on calling upwards of 300 witnesses, which will likely take months of testimony.
We also exclusively broke a story on Young Thug’s motion to dismiss his case.
Young Thug‘s lawyers are looking to have his RICO case dismissed based on a technicality, accusing the district attorney of filing “sham” and “fake” grand jury subpoenas as the rap star continues to languish in Georgia’s Cobb County Jail, The Shade Room can exclusively report.
On November 3, Brian Steel of The Steel Law Firm, who is representing Thugger, filed a motion to dismiss all charges against their client on grounds of prosecutors abusing “it’s authority by utilizing a sham Grand Jury Subpoena.”
