LIVE | Yella Beezy capital murder trial continues with defense testimony
DALLAS - The defense continues its case in the trial for Yella Beezy, who is accused of orchestrating a murder for hire plot that killed Dallas rapper MO3.
Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, is accused of paying another man to gun down MO3, whose real name is Melvin Noble, in an ambush on Interstate 35 in Dallas in 2020.
Prosecutors allege Conway hired Kewon White to carry out the murder over a long-running feud.
Conway has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and denied involvement.
White has already been convicted of capital murder for Noble’s death.
A third defendant, Devin Brown, is also charged with capital murder.
Conway's trial is expected to last about two to three weeks.
Live Updates
9 a.m. Trial resumes
FOX 4 will have live coverage of the trial each day after testimony begins around 9 a.m.
Monday's Recap
State rests in Yella Beezy murder-for-hire trial
The state rested on Monday in the murder-for-hire trial of Dallas repper Yella Beezy.
Monday’s testimony centered on the cross-examination of Dallas Police Det. Eric Barnes, the conclusion of the state's case, and initial testimony from the defense’s first witness.
The morning opened with defense attorney Toby Shook pressing Det. Barnes on alternate theories regarding the November 2020 fatal shooting of rapper MO3 (Melvin Noble). Barnes acknowledged that shell casings linked to three prior shootings were not submitted for secondary tool-mark comparisons and that Devarius Moore (Trapboy Freddy) was never charged due to lack of probable cause. Shook scrutinized Barnes’ unrecorded communications with key witness Theodore Thomas, revealing dozens of calls totaling hours of undocumented conversations across 2025 and 2026. Barnes defended bypassing traditional arrest affidavits due to the high profile nature of the case and witness safety concerns, citing harassment Thomas faced after being labeled an informant.
Following the lunch recess, prosecutors walked Barnes through extracted phone data from convicted shooter Kewon White, including November 2020 Google searches regarding the net worth of Yella Beezy and Trapboy Freddy. The state presented jewelry store surveillance showing White with thick stacks of cash, alongside communication records between White, Brown, and alleged middleman Jerry Johnson to demonstrate coordinated payment. The judge ultimately ruled against admitting a jailhouse call involving White into evidence. The state rested its case after Barnes was done with questioning. The judge promptly denied a defense motion to dismiss for lack of evidence.
The defense then called Lynn Scott, a Hitco Entertainment employee who worked closely with Conway. Scott testified that Conway’s extended stay in California following the shooting was initiated by the label for promotional work and safety reasons, detailing his family's unsuccessful housing search in Los Angeles. On cross-examination, prosecutors highlighted text messages Scott sent hours after the murder urging team members to strategize messaging before Noble was even officially declared dead.
MO3 Murder
VIDEO: Rapper Mo3 chased down by hitman on I-35
Prosecutors released video of rapper Mo3 being shot at and chased down by a hitman on I-35 in Dallas. The video was shown during a bond hearing for fellow rapper Yella Beezy who allegedly hired the hitman Kewon Dontrell White.
MO3 was shot 11 times and killed on I-35 back in 2020. Prosecutors allege the shooting was part of a murder-for-hire plot organized by rapper Yella Beezy, whose legal name is Markies Conway. They claim he paid Kewon White to carry out the murder over a long-running feud.
In September, jurors found White guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to life in prison after viewing video and hearing testimony about the shooting. Prosecutors also presented evidence of an alleged payment from Conway to White.
Conway has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and denied involvement. His trial was delayed by a month so that his lawyers could get a copy of White’s trial transcript.
A third defendant, Devin Brown, is also charged with capital murder.
Continued Coverage
- Day 10: State rests in Yella Beezy's trial for Dallas rapper MO3's murder
- Day 9: Yella Beezy murder trial's 2nd week wraps with defense cross-examining lead detective
- Day 8: Jurors in Yella Beezy murder trial watch rap videos, hear testimony from lead detective
- Day 7: Key witness, lead detective take the stand in Yella Beezy's murder-for-hire trial
- Day 6: Jurors in Yella Beezy's capital murder trial hear testimony on cellphone locations
- Day 5: Yella Beezy murder trial key witness Theodore Thomas claims he lied in grand jury testimony
- Day 4: Yella Beezy murder trial key witness doesn't testify, ordered to return on Wednesday
- Day 3: Yella Beezy murder trial continues on Day 3 with testimony from informant Jose Bodega
- Day 2: Yella Beezy murder trial testimony on Day 2 focuses on crime scene evidence, surveillance photos
- Day 1: Yella Beezy on trial for Dallas rapper MO3's murder
- Jury seated in Dallas rapper Yella Beezy’s capital murder trial
- Kewon White’s lawyers seeking a new trial over sleepy juror
- Kewon White files appeal in MO3 murder conviction
- Kewon White found guilty, sentenced to life in prison for MO3's murder
The Source: The information in this story comes from trial testimony and past news coverage.