ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Judge Paige Reese Whitaker on Thursday canceled proceedings in the trial of superstar rapper Young Thug after the latest round of mistrial motions plunged the internationally watched trial into another round of speculation and uncertainty.

“We have seen the final day of proceedings in the YSL trial,” said Joshua Schiffer, an Atlanta attorney who is not affiliated with the trial. Schiffer also said that a number of co-defendants in the trial and their attorneys met with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis after a prosecution witness read a social media post Wednesday that referenced the earlier incarceration of a defendant.

Jay Abt, attorney for co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick, confirmed that he and his client met with Willis.

Court hearings on record will resume on Monday.

The trial was scheduled to resume Thursday morning, but shortly after noon, Fulton County officials said the trial had been canceled for Thursday and the media was instructed to remain on standby for any court proceedings on Friday.

The latest uproar began when Fulton County prosecutors heard the testimony of Wunnie Lee (aka Slimelife Shawty), who had previously taken a plea deal in exchange for his testimony. A social media post containing the hashtag was shown in court #freequaa reference to a previous prison sentence for one of the YSL co-defendants, now on trial along with Jeffery Williams, the young thug's real name.

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors should have removed that image and that the jury now learned of the co-defendant's previous incarceration. “We’re not going to be able to ring that bell,” said defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland. “The condition presented to the witness, the unredacted version (of the exhibit), probably did not prepare him not to comment on it, and he did.

“It is painfully obvious that the state is not preparing its witnesses.”

“I honestly don’t care what the poster was referring to,” Judge Paige Reese Whitaker said. “What I'm trying to do is improve your sloppiness so that everyone doesn't waste 10 to 12 months of their life in this trial.” She then rejected defense attorneys' motions for a mistrial without prejudice, but said she would reject her motion for a mistrial would be examined without prejudice, meaning that the entire group of co-defendants could be tried again.

As Georgia's longest trial in history continued, Schiffer said, “The strengths and weaknesses of the various parties involved were changing.

“Some of the co-defendants have already been sentenced to significant (prison) time, while others, like Young Thug, have no criminal record at all,” he said. “Willis may have been required to re-enter plea agreements and has a range of options available to her, from reduced charges and dismissal of charges to conditional discharges and diversion agreements.

“Everything is on the table at the moment.”

Opening statements were held in Young Thug's trial on November 27, 2023. Jury selection took longer than any other trial in Georgia history, and the actual testimony itself is likely to exceed state records. Both records were set by the Atlanta Public Schools teachers scandal and trial in 2014-15.

Young Thug celebrated his 33rd birthday on August 16, 2024 after being arrested on May 9, 2022 along with 27 other suspected gang members in Buckhead as part of a 56-count indictment.

The trial itself began on November 27, 2023. Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the length of the trial, and Fulton County prosecutors still have to call more than 100 witnesses.

Prosecutors are trying to prove that YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous crimes. Defense attorneys say YSL is not a gang, just the name of a record company.

Williams is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.Atlanta News First is broadcasting extensive coverage of the Young Thug trial on ANF+ Live stream And YouTube channeland so forth Roku, Fire TV and AppleTV. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest details The historic trial of Young Thug.

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