MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The man convicted of the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph wants a new trial.
Attorneys for Justin Johnson filed a motion on Oct. 25, 2024, asking the courts to vacate his sentence and grant him a new trial.
Justin Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson was immediately sentenced to life in prison after the verdict on Thursday, Sept. 26.
The motion claims that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to find Johnson guilty of first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. It also claims the court “erred by admitting gruesome photographs of the victim’s body at the crime scene” and by admitting “gruesome autopsy photographs.” The motion also claims the court made a mistake in denying Johnson’s motions to sit at counsel table.
Another man accused in the murder – Cornelius Smith – is due in court Nov. 15. Smith faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder.
Smith took the stand against Justin Johnson on the first day of the trial, admitting to killing Dolph.
Smith identified both himself and Johnson in the video from Makeda’s Cookies on Airways Blvd. from Nov. 17, 2021, when Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot.
Police said two men got out of a stolen Mercedes-Benz and fired shots into Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, where Young Dolph was making a purchase.
Smith testified that before the shooting, he met with ‘Quett' (Hernandez Govan) and ‘Big Jook’ (Anthony Mims – Yo Gotti’s brother), who Smith said put out a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph. Govan paired Smith with Johnson for the shooting, he testified.
A judge set the trial date for March 10, 2025, for Hernandez Govan, accused of ordering the hit on Dolph.
Govan did not testify at Justin Johnson’s trial. The Shelby County Deputy District Attorney’s Office has not said whether Govan is expected to take a plea on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder. Govan remains out of jail on $90,000 bond.
Another suspect, Jermarcus Johnson - Justin Johnson's half-brother, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in October 2023 and faces six to 12 years in jail. He remains out of jail on $25,000 bond until he is sentenced.
Jermarcus Johnson testified against Justin at the first trial, saying he had helped out Justin by taking Justin’s phone and posting to social media for him. Jermarcus said he had no part in the plan to kill Dolph.
Prosecutors claimed the shooting was part of a rap feud between Dolph’s Paper Route EMPIRE (PRE) label and Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG – aka Cocaine Muzik Group).