A Dallas courtroom returned to session Thursday as prosecutors continued building their case against Kewon White, the man accused of pulling the trigger in the 2020 killing of rapper MO3, whose legal name was Melvin Noble.
White is the first of three co-defendants to face trial and has been charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Testimony resumed Thursday from Jocylynn Jackson, Noble’s former girlfriend, who also shares children with co-defendant Devin Brown. Brown is accused of helping coordinate the fatal shooting. Jackson had begun her testimony Wednesday, describing how she met Noble in 2017 and detailing the events that led up to his death.
Wednesday’s proceedings featured a wide range of witnesses including a Dallas Police Department detective, a paramedic who responded to the scene, a former medical examiner who conducted Noble’s autopsy and Noble’s own mother. A 911 call from one of the witnesses was also played in court.
Prosecutors allege the killing stemmed from a feud between Noble and rapper Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway. Conway is the third co-defendant and is accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot. Investigators say the conflict also involved rapper TrapBoyFredy.
A Dallas police detective testified during pretrial hearings that White was seen performing on stage with Conway at a concert prior to the shooting, helping establish an alleged connection between the two men.
One of the most closely watched legal battles in the case involved whether rap lyrics could be admitted as evidence. Prosecutors argued that songs including Hitters, Keep It in the Streets and On Your Head help demonstrate motive and intent behind the killing. The defense countered that the music represents artistic expression and should not be treated as factual statements.
A judge ultimately ruled that three songs would be allowed into evidence. The defense has maintained throughout the trial that portions of the evidence presented do not directly connect to White.
The case has drawn significant national attention given the prominence of the individuals involved and the broader debate it has sparked over the use of rap lyrics in criminal proceedings. Noble was shot and killed on Interstate 35E in Dallas in November 2020 in an attack that shocked the local music community and beyond. All three defendants have entered not guilty pleas.
