Young Thug, YSL RICO Trial: Kenneth 'Lil Woody' Copeland returns to the stand

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - 4 P.M. UPDATE: The state has finished its questioning of Kenneth Copeland. Young Thug's attorney Brian Steel is the first one to cross examine Copeland. Steel is asking Copeland about a beating a local nightclub and about needing a car. Copeland continues to answer questions with "I don't recall." 

3 P.M. UPDATE: It wasn't too far into the day when attorney Max Schardt moved for a mistrial because the state reportedly played a portion of the Copeland interview that they -- the state and defense -- had agreed needed to be redacted and not shown to the jury because it mentioned his client, Shannon Stillwell.

Prosecutor Simone Hylton told the judge that it was not on her list of redactions and Judge Whitaker replied that she would need to review her notes. However, Schardt then said that he had misspoke and realized that he did not notify the state that a redaction was needed.

Young Thug's attorney Brian Steel also expressed concern about how the state intended to play the interviews for the jury today -- starting and stopping. He was concerned that they would inadvertently be played. The state spoke up though and told Judge Whitaker they had been starting and stopping videos throughout the trial so far without any issues.

The prosecution completed showing the videos involving Copeland shortly before noon and the court recessed for lunch.

After lunch, attorney Hylton continued questioning Copeland, who is still insisting that he lied during the interviews with police. Copeland repeatedly insisted that it is only now that he is telling the truth (when he replies something besides 'I don't recall.').

ORIGINAL STORY

The jury and the state's witness, Kenneth "Lil Woody" Copeland, are expected to be back in the courtroom Monday morning for the continuation of the Young Thug and YSL trial in Fulton County.

Check back here for a livestream from the courtroom at 8:45 a.m. 

The jury was absent last week due to a pre-arranged break scheduled by the case's original judge, Judge Ural Glanville.

Prosecutors from the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, defense lawyers, and the case's new judge, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, spent the week reviewing future testimony, including recordings from wiretaps and jail cells.

Witness Kenneth "Lil Woody" Copeland is expected to return to the courtroom so that the prosecution can finish their questioning and the defense can cross-examine him.

Copeland was supposed to be the state's "star witness," but he has been less than cooperative on the witness stand after initially asserting that he wanted to plead the Fifth, followed by a weekend in jail and an ex parte meeting with Judge Glanville and the prosecutors.

That ex parte meeting led to the eventual dismissal of Judge Glanville and several attempts to remove the prosecutors from the case.

RELATED: YSL RICO trial: Calls reviewed, Steel files brief with GA Supreme Court

Last week, defendant Deamonte Kendrick and his attorneys filed a motion urging Judge Whitaker to limit the time Fulton County prosecutors currently have to finish their case.

RELATED: Young Thug, YSL Trial: Jury has the week off, time limit motion filed

The trial is already the longest in state history, and the state still plans to call dozens of witnesses.

Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, observed his 33rd birthday on August 16—his second birthday in jail after being arrested on May 9, 2022, along with 27 other suspected gang members.

The state is trying to prove that YSL, reportedly a record label, is actually a criminal gang and that Williams was its leader, which would constitute a violation of the state's anti-racketeering law.

Williams was also charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and a prescription drug. He is also facing charges for allegedly possessing a gun and a machine gun.

His co-defendants are also facing racketeering charges and various other charges, including murder.

Young Thug and 27 others were indicted in 2022 for violating Georgia's RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) law and committing multiple violent crimes. Following the longest jury selection in history (10 months), the trial for Young Thug and several co-defendants began in November 2023. It is now the longest trial in Georgia history. Prosecutors are attempting to prove that YSL (Young Slime Life) is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous offenses, including murder. The defendants maintain that YSL stands for Young Stoner Life and is the name of a record label founded by Young Thug. Young Thug is facing eight criminal charges. The trial has been plagued by various disruptions, including illnesses, the arrests of a juror and a lawyer, the stabbing of defendant Shannon Stillwell, the removal of the judge originally assigned to the case, and more.