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The immunity has been signed so you are required to testify. If you dont testify, the state is probably going to ask me to jail you and Im probably going to do that, Glanville told Copeland.

Credit: Jason Getz

Credit: Jason Getz

Copeland told Glanville that he was going to testify.

After a lunch break, Copeland took the stand. ADA Simone Hylton began to question Copeland at that time:

Hylton: Do you want to be here?

Copeland: Im here.

Hylton: Let me ask you some questions, how old are you?

Copeland: Grown.

Hylton: What does grown mean?

Copeland: Im an adult.

Hylton: When you say you are an adult, what number in years are you?

Copeland: I plea the Fifth.

Glanville dismissed the jury and ordered deputies to take Copeland into custody.

Mr. Copeland, given the fact you have invoked your Fifth Amendment privilege but the state has already given you immunitythis court holds you in willful contempt and well see you on Monday, Glanville told Copeland.

Tempers flared after Chief Deputy DA Adriane Love questioned whose interest Melnick was representing.

Melnick told Glanville that nobody from the DAs office had contacted him about Copeland since June 2023, even though they knew he was Copelands attorney of record.

Theyve put us in this position, where at the last minute, Im trying to advise him, as best I can, what I think its best for him, Melnick told Glanville

Credit: Jason Getz

Credit: Jason Getz

Melnick then took exception to Loves allegation.

I owe nothing to anybody over here. I owe nothing to anybody at any of these tables. I dont, candidly and no offense, care what happens with their cases, Melnick said. The only thing I care about is what happens to Kenneth Copeland. For an assertion to be made that I or Mr. Copeland are somehow being influenced by someone over here is absolutely ridiculous, I take great offense to it.

Melnick would later say that he plans to report Love to the State Bar of Georgia for contacting Copeland, knowing he is represented by counsel.

Hylton told the court that they subpoenaed Copeland last Friday and he told prosecutors that Melnick was not his attorney. It wasnt until an email sent Thursday evening that they were made aware that Melnick represented Copeland.

Melnick told Glanville he wont be able to appear on Monday but advised that another attorney will appear on behalf of him to represent Copeland. He also told Glanville that Copeland intends to exercise his Fifth Amendment privilege on Monday again.

Tempers also flared between Love and Young Thugs attorney Brian Steel. Glanville simply reminded both that they have professional obligations and should be professional toward each other.

Copeland, a YSL associate, is a key witness in the states case. His leaked interrogation video showed him speaking to Atlanta for nearly four hours offering to provide information about their yearslong gang investigation in exchange for leniency.

Copeland is mentioned in the indictment, but wasnt among the 28 alleged YSL associates charged. Copeland will be called to testify on Monday but its expected to be taken back to jail after exercising his Fifth Amendment right.

Love asked for Copeland to be held in jail until the end of trial if he refuses to testify.

Jury selection began on Jan. 4, 2023; opening statements followed more than 10 months later, on Nov. 27. Repeated delays, juror problems and time off has resulted in just over 85 days of actual proceedings, some conducted outside the jurys presence. Out of around 200 witnesses, less than 80 have been called to testify.

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Young Thug trial: State witness held in contempt, taken into custody - The Atlanta Journal Constitution