The murder trial of Kewon White, the man accused of fatally shooting Dallas rapper MO3 in 2020, is set to continue Tuesday in what has become one of the most high-profile criminal cases in North Texas in recent years.
MO3, whose legal name was Melvin Noble, was shot and killed in November 2020 in a case prosecutors describe as a murder-for-hire plot. White is the first of three co-defendants to face trial and is accused of being the triggerman in the killing.
The first week of proceedings featured testimony from forensics experts, law enforcement officers, and witnesses connected to the events surrounding the shooting. Surveillance footage and video of White’s arrest in Mount Pleasant were also presented to the jury.
Noble’s former girlfriend also took the stand. She has children with co-defendant Devin Brown, who is accused of helping coordinate the attack.
The third defendant, Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, is accused of orchestrating the killing. Prosecutors allege that a rivalry between rappers MO3, TrapBoyFredy, and Yella Beezy served as the motive behind the murder plot. All three men have pleaded not guilty.
The defense has challenged portions of the evidence presented at trial, arguing that some exhibits do not directly connect to White.
The case has drawn national attention in part due to a legal battle over whether rap lyrics could be admitted as evidence. A Dallas police detective testified during pretrial hearings that songs including Hitters, Keep It in the Streets, and On Your Head support the prosecution’s murder-for-hire theory.
The detective also testified about an alleged feud between Conway and Noble and noted that the suspected shooter appeared on stage with Conway at a concert prior to the killing.
Prosecutors argued the lyrics establish motive and intent while defense attorneys maintained the songs represent artistic expression and should not be treated as factual statements. A judge ultimately ruled that three of the rapper’s songs would be allowed into evidence.
The outcome of White’s trial is expected to set the tone for the subsequent proceedings against the remaining co-defendants. The case continues to draw widespread attention from both the music community and legal observers across the country.
