The man convicted for the murder of Young Dolph, Justin Johnson, just filed a motion for a retrial last week (Friday, October 25). “The verdict regarding the offenses of conviction was contrary to the weight and sufficiency of the evidence, and the evidence was insufficient to lead any rational trier of fact to conclude that Mr. Johnson was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” Johnson’s lawyer Luke Evans shared in writing. “The trial court erred by admitting gruesome photographs of the victim’s body at the crime scene […] admitting gruesome autopsy photographs […] and denying Johnson’s repeated motions to allow him to sit at the counsel table. The cumulative effect of multiple errors at trial warrants granting Mr. Johnson a new trial.”
For those unaware, the court found Justin Johnson guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and unlawful possession of a handgun by a convict with a felony history last month. He received a sentence of life in prison for the murder of Young Dolph. As for the other alleged perpetrators of this attack, Cornelius Smith – who had testified against Johnson – is scheduled to appear in court on November 15 to answer for first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted murder charges.
Young Dolph & Gucci Mane At Super Bowl LII
Feb 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Recording artists Young Dolph (left) and Gucci Mane (right) pose for a photo during Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images
According to Smith’s testimony, he acted as one of the gunmen who shot and killed Young Dolph. Per his allegations, Hernandez Govan hired him and Justin Johnson to murder the rapper for an alleged $100K bounty. Yo Gotti’s brother Big Jook allegedly put out a hit on the Memphis MC. Govan also faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted murder. Prosecutors set a deadline of November 22 for him to decide whether or not he will accept a plea deal.
Not only that, but Justin Johnson’s lawyer alleged that Hernandez Govan entered a proffer agreement with prosecutors during the Young Dolph investigation. This is presumably so he could provide information about the crime to law enforcement in a way that bars them from using that info against him. However, Govan did not testify during Johnson’s trial. If he doesn’t take a plea deal, he will face trial in March of next year.
About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case.
Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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