Amidst the ongoing jury deliberations that stretched into another day without a conclusion, a dramatic twist unfolded in the courtroom as one of the two men indicted alongside the renowned rapper Young Thug, and who had recently suffered a stabbing incident within the confines of prison, nonetheless managed to make an appearance in court on Monday. Attorney Doug Weinstein verified that his client, Deamonte Kendrick, better known by his rap moniker Yak Gotti, had been harmed on Sunday. Since last Tuesday, jurors have been wrestling with the weighty decision of whether to convict Kendrick and his co-defendant Shannon Stillwell on charges encompassing gang activity, murder, narcotics trafficking, and illegal firearm possession.
During a press conference held outside the Fulton County Courthouse, Weinstein revealed that Kendrick had boldly returned to court, his head adorned with four or five staples, yet “he’s faring remarkably well despite the ordeal.” Weinstein expressed his disdain, stating, “It’s truly deplorable that individuals detained in our jails must endure such harrowing experiences.”
In an email correspondence, Natalie Ammons, the spokesperson for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, detailed that a altercation had erupted between Kendrick and another inmate at the jail’s south annex located in Union City. She elaborated that Kendrick had received treatment for “minor wounds inflicted by a sharp implement.” An inquiry into the fracas is currently ongoing, she confirmed.
Weinstein expressed his frustration over the hurdles he encountered in seeking clear-cut answers from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office concerning the incident, yet he ventured to guess, nonetheless, that Kendrick had been attacked with “a crude, makeshift homemade weapon resembling a shank.”
Weinstein revealed that Kendrick's mind is scarcely occupied with the stabbing incident. Instead, he is deeply engrossed in anticipation of the impending verdict, as the jurors continue their deliberations, a year having passed since the opening statements commenced. "Deamonte yearns to avoid incarceration, and this unforeseen occurrence certainly hasn't enhanced his situation," Weinstein emphasized. "However, he finds himself in that predicament. He is aware, or at least holds onto the hope and conviction, that his release is imminent."
Last year, at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Kendrick's co-defendant, Shannon Stillwell, suffered a stabbing, prompting a temporary halt to their lengthy trial. Kendrick and Stillwell were two among the 28 individuals indicted alongside Young Thug in May 2022, facing charges including conspiracy to violate Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The jury selection for the trial of six of these defendants initiated nearly two years prior.
In October, four of the defendants, Young Thug among them, pleaded guilty. The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was granted probation and released. Stillwell and Kendrick, however, rejected plea deals after extensive negotiations spanning over a week, leading their lawyers to forego presenting evidence or witnesses.
The jury embarked on their deliberations last Tuesday afternoon and adjourned at 5 p.m. They resumed deliberations for approximately six hours on Wednesday, before taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Deliberations will commence once again on Tuesday morning.
