Lawyers delivered closing arguments in Young Dolph’s murder trial on Thursday (September 26). Jurors never heard from the alleged mastermind, Hernandez Govan, who is expected to testify against his co-defendant, Justin Johnson.
Johnson, one of two accused shooters, is the only person to stand trial in the 2021 murder of Jandorff. Another gunman, Cornelius Smith, admitted to the murders during testimony on Monday (September 23) and named Johnson as his accomplice. Govan never testified.
“I don’t want to get into too many details, but not all of the potential witnesses that we might have are necessary in the case,” Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told reporters. “It’s not always necessary. Give whatever you have to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Johnson’s lawyer, Luke Evans, chastised prosecutors for not calling Govan as a witness during closing arguments on Thursday. Evans recommended that Govan be excluded from the trial because his testimony was “unfavorable.”
“If he comes in and testifies for me, I don’t have the ability to wave a magic wand and give him a reduced sentence, so he’s excluded from me, Mr. Johnson is excluded, you are excluded,” Evans told the jury. “If this is a truth-seeking function, why doesn’t the state call him?”
Prosecutors rejected Evans’ argument. Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagman said Govan has the right not to incriminate himself.
“He’s the defendant,” Hagerman declared. “He’s not a missing witness. That’s crazy.
Johnson, Smith and Govan were charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Youngdorf. Smith and Govan have not formally accepted plea deals but have not been tried with Johnson.
Smith said he and Johnson killed young Dolph to collect the $100,000 bounty that Yo Gotti’s brother, Big Jock, hit the late rapper on the head with. Govan allegedly helped plan the murder.
Anthony “Big Jock” Mims was shot and killed in Memphis in January. No arrests have been made in connection with his death.
Jurors began deliberating in Jan Dorf’s murder trial Thursday afternoon. If convicted, Johnson faces life in prison.
