LIVE | Lead detective returns to the stand in Yella Beezy murder trial
DALLAS - The trial for Yella Beezy, who is accused of orchestrating a murder for hire plot that killed Dallas rapper MO3, is now in its second week.
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 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.
Thursday's Recap
Key witness & lead detective testifies in Yella Beezy trial | Dallas News Live
Casey Stegall speaks to a former federal prosecutor about the ongoing Yella Beezy trial.
The trial on Thursday centered on testimony from lead investigator Det. Eric Barnes, who outlined the violent, escalating rivalry between Markies Conway (a.k.a. Yella Beezy) and Melvin Noble (a.k.a. MO3), alongside financial evidence suggesting a murder-for-hire plot.
The morning focused on the origins of the feud. Over defense objections, prosecutors presented a timeline linking the conflict back to 2017 and 2018 shootings, including an incident where Conway was shot and lost his spleen. Through music videos, social media clips, and a 2019 DJ Vlad interview, prosecutors highlighted Conway’s retaliatory mindset, noting his statements that street conflicts are "two for two" and illustrated tensions surrounding a 2019 Frisco concert where Noble was arrested to preempt violence.
In the afternoon, the state showcased surveillance from January 2020 showing Conway assaulting Noble’s manager, Brandon Rainwater. Videos revealed Conway boasting about the attack, Noble mocking Conway’s claims, and Conway subsequently releasing the track "Keep It in the Streets" after Rainwater filed a civil lawsuit. Barnes testified this music promoted handling disputes outside the legal system.
The state concluded the day by examining financial records and digital communications surrounding the November 2020 murder. Barnes linked Conway to a late-October $40,000 cash withdrawal before performing alongside the convicted gunman in Houston. The judge temporarily withheld a November 2020 jailhouse recording regarding a "20 bands" payout pending corroborating evidence. However, the court admitted extracted iCloud messages showing Conway withdrawing another $40,000 on Nov. 20, 2020, followed by urgent texts with associates coordinating meetups before both Conway and White left town.
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 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.