Yella Beezy murder trial begins in Dallas over Mo3's 2020 murder

The capital murder trial for Dallas rapper Markies Conway, known by his stage name Yella Beezy, began in Dallas on Tuesday, a day after twelve jurors and three alternates were selected.

Conway is accused of hiring a hitman in the shooting death of rival rapper Mo3, whose legal name is Melvin Noble. He was best known for his 2018 hit single "Errybody." Noble died on Nov. 11, 2020, after being shot by a suspect who chased him on foot on I-35E.

Trial day 1

"A feud that escalated for years." That's what prosecutors said in opening statements motivated a rap star to plot and carry out the murder of a rival rap artist. 

Jurors watched the haunting video of vehicles stopped on I-35 in November 2020. A man with a gun chases another and kills him in front of stunned motorists. 

"As the gunshots became closer to me, that's when I began getting scared," said witness Tracey Kappeoer.

Soon after, we learned that the victim was Melvin Nobie, better known as Mo3. 

Conway pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial over whether he paid the two other men, Kewon White and Devin Brown, to carry out the murder in exchange for $40,000. White was convicted and sentenced to life in prison last month. 

Among those testifying on Monday in Conway's trial is a woman who had children with both the victim and Conway's alleged accomplice, Devin Brown. Jocelyn Jackson knew both the victim and the defendant, but has given conflicting answers about whether Mo3 and Beezy actually had a feud.

Prosecutors plan to play some of the rappers' songs to prove they had bad blood. The trial is expected to last well into next week. 

Yella Beezy jury selection

Monday's court session lasted for more than eight hours, with attorneys from both sides trying to screen each person, their backgrounds, and biases.

A few jurors were taken out of the jury pool because their criminal history included charges for weapons. One potential juror was taken out of the jury pool because he said he didn't think his conscience could handle it.

Conway has pleaded not guilty. The judge said the trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

Yella Beezy's past incidents

In 2021, Conway, who previously opened for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, was arrested in Collin County on three charges of sexual assault, abandonment of an endangered child, and unlawful carrying a weapon. Those charges were later dismissed.

In 2018, Conway was shot multiple times inside a car on the Sam Rayburn Tollway in Lewisville.