Young Dolph murder trial: Day 1 of testimony

► See Day 2 coverage Tuesday here

5:00 p.m.: Court has ended for the day. The trial will resume Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.

3:47 p.m.: Cross-examination has begun as Justin Johnson’s attorney is questioning Cornelius Smith after a brief recess.

There has been a lot of back and forth between the two about how much Smith was actually paid for the Young Dolph shooting as the attorney alleges that Smith’s first attorney was paid thousands of dollars.

The attorney then questioned Smith about his honesty and whether he was telling the truth to investigators and his girlfriend.

Smith tells the attorney that he killed Young Dolph on his daughter’s birthday and then made promises to his girlfriend.

When the attorney asked Smith if he was lying to her, he said that he “was just spittin’ game.”

2:35 p.m.: Smith said that after the shooting, Justin Johnson Facetimed Big Jook and used sign language to tell him about Dolph’s shooting.

While describing the shooting, Smith admitted that he didn’t feel any emotions.

“I didn’t feel nothing at the time. I ain’t gonna lie,” Smith said. “I was just trying to get some money.”

However, he did say he was in pain after being shot in the shoulder.

After leaving the scene, he and Johnson went to an apartment complex where he’d gotten his injury looked at.

Smith explained that he began to feel remorse in the aftermath of the shooting.

“I didn’t even know Dolph,” he said. “I felt stupid, I knew I messed up.”

Smith said he was supposed to get $40,000 following the death of Young Dolph but instead, he got $500 and a letter.

He said he flushed the letter down the toilet.

1:40 p.m.: Cornelius Smith, allegedly the second gunman at the Makeda’s Cookies scene, has taken the stand in the trial of Justin Johnson.

Shown video of the shooting in court, Smith says. “That’s me,” identifying himself as the first gunman firing at Young Dolph. Asked who the second shooter was, he says. “Justin.”

“We made the block and started shooting,” Smith testifies.

Smith said he and Johnson had been looking for Young Dolph after learning there was $100,000 hit on him. He says he knew Dolph was around because of his frequent turkey giveaways in the community.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. ( WREG ) — After nearly three years, the trial for one of the men charged in connection to the deadly attack of Memphis rapper Young Dolph began Monday morning.

Justin Johnson, aka “Straight Drop,” is the first defendant in the case. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include first-degree murder.

Opening statements from the prosecution began at 10 a.m. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman told the jury that the hit to kill Young Dolph was ordered by “Big Jook” a high-up at record label CMG and older brother of rapper Yo Gotti.

Hagerman says $100,000 was offered for the hit. A former security guard for Young Dolph testified in court that Dolph had diss tracks about Big Jook.

Eight months ago, Big Jook was killed outside a Memphis nightclub.

Prosecutors say Johnson wanted to be a rapper with CMG. He also says Cornelius Smith, the second person accused of shooting Young Dolph, had a drug problem fueled by Hernandez Govan. Beyond supplying drugs, Govan scouted talent for CMG.

Opening statements from the defense started just before 11. The defense attorney alluded to Hernandez Govan testifying, but that has not been confirmed.

The first witness took the stand at 11:10. She is Erica Thornton, sister of Adolph Thornton, aka Young Dolph.

Shelby Co. District Attorney Steve Mulroy says Smith is cooperating with their office and they expect him to testify.

After a recess, the next witness to take the stand was Cornelius Smith, who allegedly was the second gunman.

On November 17, 2021, 36-year-old Adolph Thorton Jr. , better known as Young Dolph, was gunned down at Makeda’s Cookies on Airways Boulevard near Ketchum in Memphis.

Hernandez Govan, Justin Johnson, and Cornelius Smith are the three men set to face a judge. They are all three charged with first-degree murder. A fourth man, Jermarcus Johnson, already pled guilty last year to three counts of being an accessory after the fact.

The suspects will face a jury coming from Nashville after a defense argued intense media coverage would make it hard to seat a jury from Memphis. The jury consists of nine white women, two black women, two black men, and two white men.

Govan is accused of arranging Young Dolph’s murder. Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith are said to be the alleged triggermen. Prosecutors say Jermarcus Johnson was not involved in the shooting or the planning but did assist his half-brother, Justin, escape after the shooting.

According to court records, Johnson bonded out the same day he entered the guilty plea and has been out awaiting his sentencing. At the time, the judge said the charges would bring a sentence of 6 to 12 years.

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman says they expect the trial to last only a few days.

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