Yella Beezy murder trial enters second day as witnesses describe MO3's fatal shooting

Court recessed for the day Wednesday afternoon in the murder trial of the man accused of plotting to kill Dallas rapper MO3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme. The judge said the trial will resume Thursday morning.

On the first day of trial, witnesses described a chaotic scene of gunfire on a Dallas freeway Tuesday as prosecutors began presenting their case against rapper Yella Beezy, who is accused of orchestrating the 2020 killing of fellow Dallas rapper MO3 in an alleged murder-for-hire plot.

Markies Conway, known professionally as Yella Beezy, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder in connection with the death of MO3.

Prosecutors allege Conway hired Kewon White to kill Noble following a feud between the two rappers that dated back to 2017. White was convicted of capital murder in September and sentenced to life in prison.

Kewon White murder trial: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

During opening statements at the Dallas County courthouse, prosecutors told jurors they would hear evidence about the escalating conflict between Conway and Noble.

“You’re going to hear how that feud escalates and escalates,” a prosecutor told the jury.

The state alleges Conway paid White $40,000 to carry out the killing.

Conway’s defense attorneys disputed that allegation, arguing the $40,000 in cash White possessed came from drug activity rather than a payment from Conway.

Defense attorney Toby Shook also challenged the prosecution’s case, arguing that jurors would be asked to draw conclusions without sufficient evidence.

“There’ll be gaps in that type of evidence. The state’s going to ask you to make assumptions about things that happened. They have a theory as to what happened, but that can’t fill in all those gaps,” Shook told jurors.

“Keep your eye on the reasonable doubts that come up,” a defense attorney told jurors.

Noble was shot and killed in broad daylight in November 2020 after being chased on foot along Interstate 35E in Dallas.

Jurors were shown dash camera video of a masked gunman exiting a black vehicle, along with photographs and other evidence documenting the shooting.