A Dallas jury was seated and sworn in Monday for the capital murder trial of Markies Conway, the rapper known professionally as Yella Beezy. Conway stands accused of orchestrating the 2020 ambush and killing of rival Dallas musician Melvin Noble, who performed under the stage name MO3.
The trial commenced Monday morning with the jury selection process involving a pool of 75 prospective jurors. By Monday afternoon, a final panel of 12 was sworn in before Judge Chika Anyiam. Conway has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, pleading not guilty to the capital murder charge and denying allegations that he hired a hitman to carry out the fatal shooting.
The case centers on the violent death of Noble, who was gunned down in broad daylight on Interstate 35 in Dallas in November 2020. Prosecutors allege that the shooting was a coordinated murder-for-hire plot rather than a random act of violence. Evidence previously presented in related hearings includes video footage of Noble being pursued and shot at by a gunman on the busy highway during a high-speed chase.
The seating of Conway’s jury follows the recent conviction of Kewon Dontrell White, the man identified by authorities as the gunman. During White’s trial in September, prosecutors presented evidence arguing that he carried out the hit at Conway’s request, alleging that Conway paid White for the specific purpose of eliminating his rival. White was subsequently found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Given the high profile of both the defendant and the victim, as well as the prior conviction of the alleged gunman, the court faced significant challenges in finding an impartial jury. Judge Anyiam specifically instructed the pool to disclose any exposure to news or social media coverage that might have led to a biased opinion. Several potential jurors were excused after admitting that the notoriety of the case had already influenced their views.
Legal experts tracking the case noted that while the initial pool of 75 was somewhat small for a high-profile capital case, it mirrored the successful selection process used in White’s trial. Attorney Rogge Dunn observed that both the prosecution and the defense were seeking a “blank slate,” a difficult task in a case with such intense interest in North Texas. Jury expert Allison Richardson noted that while publicity was high, the court appeared to be on track to ensure a fair trial for both sides.
A critical pretrial ruling from Judge Anyiam will also shape the evidence heard by the newly seated jury. The judge previously ruled that the majority of Conway’s rap lyrics are inadmissible and cannot be used by the state as evidence of criminal character or intent. However, a small selection of specific songs was approved for use during the trial.
Testimony is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, with the trial expected to span two to three weeks. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to call several of the same witnesses who testified during White’s trial. If convicted of capital murder, Conway faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. A third defendant, Devin Brown, is also facing capital murder charges and will stand trial once Conway’s proceedings have concluded.
