Hernandez Govan found not guilty in Young Dolph murder

Hernandez Govan will be live in the courtroom for his trial at 9:15 a.m. in the video box above.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hernandez Govan, the alleged mastermind in rapper Young Dolph’s murder, was found not guilty on all charges in court during day four of his trial Thursday morning.

Govan spoke with WREG crews after the verdict, thanking the jury, his family, and few friends who knew that he was innocent and didn’t “shy away from him.”

“Thank you to the juries for getting this right and getting my life back,” Govan said. “Without God, I don’t even think I would have made it this far.”

Court ended on day three with the jury adjourning after deliberations. The jury is expected to resume deliberations until a verdict is reached.

On Wednesday, state prosecutors called one witness to the stand, Dr. Scantlebury, who performed Young Dolph’s autopsy, before resting their case.

Defense attorneys then called two witnesses to the stand, Lieutenant Michael Coburn with the Memphis Police Department and Vivian Ferguson [an 80-year-old neighbor of Cornelius Smith’s father], after his request to dismiss the case was denied by the judge.

Defense rested its case, leading to closing arguments where they said the jury should be embarrassed by the DA for bringing this case before them and that the whole county should be embarrassed by how things were handled. 

In rebuttal, Chief Prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Office, Carla Taylor, told the jury, “Are you kidding me?” And said this case is all about Govan and his choices. 

After the closing arguments, the judge dismissed the jury from the courtroom so they could deliberate.

This story will be updated.

► Day 1: Trial of alleged mastermind in Young Dolph case

► Day 2: Trial of alleged mastermind in Young Dolph case

► Day 3: Trial of alleged mastermind in Young Dolph case