ATLANTA — The trial involving rapper Young Thug and the alleged YSL street gang continues Tuesday following the long holiday weekend and a brief break in proceedings.
Court was last in session last Wednesday. At that time proceedings continued with cross-examination of a witness who has become a key figure in proceedings, Kenneth "Lil Woody" Copeland.
Copeland testified during defense attorney Brian Steel's cross-examination that he believes the Fulton County prosecutors leaked a video of his 2015 police interrogation video to social media outlets -- a move that damaged his reputation and placed his family in danger. He told Steel he believed that the state released the video in an effort to force him to testify.
Young Thug, YSL live stream | Tuesday, September 3
"Who did you believe put out the videos on the internet of your interrogation or the video?" Steel asked.
Copeland replied, "The state."
"And what did that have an effect on you or your family when you believe the state of Georgia put out your interrogation?" Steel inquired.
"Well, they believe I'd be, if everybody say I'm a snitch, you know, this man third, they believe that I'd be like, okay, and just do what they want me to do," Copeland stated.
The revelation was a bombshell for the state's case as Fulton County DA Fani Willis previously had blamed defense attorneys for leaking the video.
Young Thug's defense attorney, Brian Steel, questioned Copeland throughout the entire day of proceedings on Tuesday. On Monday, Lil Woody returned to the stand after a week-long break.
Steel replayed jail calls, police interviews, and even Copeland's prior testimony in the ongoing trial.
Last Monday, the state wrapped up questioning Copeland, who returned to the stand after a week-long break.
More on recent case developments
Lil Woody has been on the stand since the resumption of the trial following the recusal saga of the original judge, Ural Glanville.
Considered a key witness before the trial, Woody has largely declined to answer questions from prosecutors, often telling them he doesn't recall events he was allegedly involved in, statements he made, or even things that have happened this week in court.
It's become his calling card so much so that he actually released a song called "I Don't Recall."
Jurors returned to the courtroom earlier this month after a nearly two-month delay over the recusal matter with Judge Glanville. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker is now overseeing the case.
Judge Glanville was removed after attorneys for Young Thug had argued that he should no longer oversee the case because of a June 10 proceeding known as an ex parte meeting that became the subject of deep contention in the trial.
In her order, Judge Rachel Krause -- who was assigned the recusal matter -- stated, "This Court has no doubt that Judge Glanville can and would continue presiding fairly over this matter if the recusal motions were denied, but the 'necessity of preserving the public's confidence in the judicial system' weighs in favor of excusing Judge Glanville from further handling of this case."
The controversial private meeting led to Young Thug's attorney Brian Steel being held in contempt and sentenced to a 20-day jail sentence, which was reversed after the state Supreme Court granted him bond.
Steel had been held in contempt for refusing to reveal his source for how he heard about the ex parte meeting.
Judge Glanville later released the transcript of the meeting with the witness, Kenneth Copeland, a.k.a. "Lil Woody."
Copeland was arrested on June 7 and held in contempt after refusing to testify on the stand as part of an immunity agreement. A few days later, in the judge's chambers, prosecutors shared an email sent to them by Copeland's attorney accusing them of making him a target by forcing him to testify. They also said his attorney was threatening to pull out of the case.
Prosecutors later told Copeland that if he still refused to take the stand, he could be in jail until every defendant had their cases decided. He did eventually testify.
Copeland had an attorney present for the meeting, but she was a stand-in for his usual lawyer, who was out of town. Steel insinuated that the court was committing "coercion" as no representation for his client was invited to the meeting.
The extraordinary turn in the case captivated legal observers.
