Hernandez Govan was acquitted Thursday of all charges in the killing of Young Dolph, ending a four-day trial that drew intense local attention and underscored lingering questions about Memphis’s struggle with gun violence. The verdict came after hours of testimony and deliberation, bringing a dramatic close to one of the city’s most closely watched cases in years.
Jurors heard from eight witnesses, including the rapper’s sister, his head of security, and Cornelius Smith, who previously admitted to carrying out the murder in a separate case. Testimony wrapped Wednesday, followed by a 96-minute discussion before jurors broke for the evening. They resumed the next morning and, after nearly three additional hours of debate, returned with the decision to clear Govan of all charges.
Testimony and Disputed Evidence
Prosecutors argued that Govan was tied to the convicted shooters, Cornelius Smith and Justin Johnson, pointing to phone records suggesting contact between them after the crime. That connection, they contended, bolstered his role in the conspiracy.
Manny Arora, Govan’s defense attorney, pushed back, noting that Smith had long purchased drugs from his client, which explained the calls. He also pointed out that Johnson spoke about the murder with others, weakening the state’s case that Govan played a coordinating role.
A white Mercedes used in the shooting was later discovered abandoned near Govan’s home, and a still from a music video placed him in the area. But Arora argued that another man tied to the case lived on the same street, offering a plausible alternative explanation for the car’s proximity.
Conflicting Accounts
On the stand, Smith testified that Govan—known as “Quet”—had orchestrated the murder, a claim his girlfriend also supported. The defense countered by underscoring inconsistencies in Smith’s statements, which at times introduced a fictitious character named Miscellaneous and, in other versions, placed the order with another figure known as Big Jook.
Prosecutors further alleged that Govan met with Smith after the killing, providing him with money and directing him to purchase a car cover to conceal the getaway vehicle. Arora emphasized the lack of video evidence from the car wash and AutoZone where these events supposedly occurred, noting investigators had not identified those sites until months later.
Defense Witnesses
Two defense witnesses sought to undermine the state’s case. A Memphis police lieutenant testified that no traces of bleach were found on the Mercedes, contradicting Smith’s claim the car had been scrubbed after the crime. An elderly neighbor of Smith’s father denied ever receiving money from Johnson for Smith, challenging another piece of the prosecution’s narrative.
Arora also highlighted what he called a failure to investigate Big Jook, a central figure in Smith’s testimony. A police sergeant recounted how officers attempted to question him at the airport, only for him to refuse cooperation. Big Jook was later killed in a shooting two and a half years after Young Dolph’s death, foreclosing any further inquiry into his potential role.
Closing Arguments and Verdict
Justin Johnson has already been sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. Cornelius Smith, who testified against Govan, still awaits his own trial, though Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has suggested a plea deal may be imminent.
In closing arguments, Arora turned his fire on prosecutors, declaring, “This whole county is a freaking embarrassment in regard to this trial. The whole world is watching, and this is what we got.” The state shot back, saying, “Are you kidding me right now? He just called the whole city of Memphis dumb,” while urging jurors to remember the toll on Young Dolph’s family.
The trial was presided over by Judge Jennifer Mitchell, with prosecutors Irris Williams and Carla Taylor representing the state. The verdict leaves Memphis grappling not only with the outcome of a high-profile case but also with the broader realities of violence that continue to reverberate across the city.
Leave a Reply