MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Justin Johnson, one of the men accused of being involved in the killing of Young Dolph, has been granted a change of venue request.
Friday, Judge Jennifer Mitchell Johnson granted the request. While the case will be heard in Shelby County, they will bring in outside jurors.
Johnson, 25, is facing a slew of charges including first-degree murder.
Defense attorney Luke Evans asked last week for an outside pool of jurors, for several reasons, he told the court. One is the extensive media coverage, including social media, where he says threats have been made.
“There are reactions in the media to this case that say things such as ‘get a rope,’ and a call for his lynching,’” Evans said.
Friday, Evans said, “When we are talking about potential jurors that could potentially qualify to be on the jury, we need to know if they have heard about it. If we find that information out, then we will– the court, myself, and the state– be asking them questions to investigate what they’ve heard.”
The judge’s ruling did not come as a complete surprise for the state.
Paul Hagerman, Shelby Co. Asst. District Attorney, said, “This isn’t even a roadblock or anything like that. This just means for a couple of days we will go somewhere and get a group of citizens and bring them back here and ask them to do the right thing.”
Johnson is set to be tried alongside Cornelius Smith, meaning both will have an outside jury. The trial is scheduled for June 3. The staus hearing is set for May 3.