Kewon White, the man convicted for the 2020 murder of rapper Mo3, is officially seeking a new trial. Legal representatives for White have filed a motion alleging significant jury misconduct, specifically claiming that a juror slept through hours of testimony during the eight-day trial.
According to reports from Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, the motion asserts that the juror in question fell asleep daily, missing vital information presented to the court. The filing states, “Defendant is entitled to a new trial because he was tried by a jury that, including a sleeping juror, resulted in the violation of his statutory and state constitutional right to a trial by a jury of 12.”
The defense described the behavior as “open and obvious,” noting that the juror would frequently lean back with her head tilted or allow her head to drop forward, effectively disengaging from the proceedings. During these periods, the defense argues, she was unable to observe witnesses, attorneys, or the exhibits being displayed to the jury.
This latest motion is separate from the formal appeal of his conviction that White filed in September. Texas Criminal District Court Judge Chika Anyiam is currently tasked with reviewing the motion and has 75 days to issue a ruling.
White was found guilty of capital murder last month for the fatal shooting of Mo3 on a Dallas highway in 2020. Following his conviction, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors have alleged that the murder was a contract killing orchestrated by Yella Beezy, who is accused of paying White to carry out the hit due to an ongoing conflict between the artists. Yella Beezy is currently scheduled to stand trial for his alleged involvement later this month.
XXL has reached out to Kewon White’s legal team for further comment.
