The capital murder trial of Dallas rapper Yella Beezy entered its second week in a Dallas County courtroom with a dramatic witness reversal and new testimony from a childhood friend. On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, prosecutors continued calling witnesses in the case against 35-year-old Markies Conway—known professionally as Yella Beezy—who is accused of orchestrating a $40,000 murder-for-hire plot that killed fellow Dallas artist Melvin Noble Jr., known as MO3, on November 11, 2020. The midweek proceedings followed a pivotal session on Monday, November 2, when prosecution witness Theodore Thomas admitted on the stand that he had fabricated earlier grand jury testimony linking Conway to the killing.

Key Witness Recants Grand Jury Testimony

Monday's session centered on Theodore Thomas, an artist who performs as Jose Bodega and told jurors he has known Conway for about 10 years. After repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during questioning on October 29, Thomas returned to the stand under an immunity arrangement, according to XXL Magazine.

When questioned by prosecutors about his February 2025 grand jury testimony detailing a dispute between Conway and Noble, Thomas recanted his story.

"I just said I made it up," Thomas testified, according to CBS News. The presiding judge subsequently allowed the state to treat Thomas as a hostile witness. Prosecutors confronted him with his previous sworn statements, in which he claimed that shooter Kewon White was paid $40,000 for the ambush and that the money came from Yella Beezy and local rapper Trapboy Freddy. On the stand, Thomas flatly stated, "That was a lie," adding in testimony reported by WFAA that he never saw White receive money and had no advance knowledge that Noble would be killed.

During cross-examination by defense attorney Toby Shook, Thomas agreed that he fabricated the account after being detained for 18 months in federal custody, where he faced up to 25 years on drug and firearm charges alongside threats of a RICO indictment and a potential life sentence.

According to FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, Thomas admitted he told federal authorities "whatever they wanted" to hear to secure entry into the federal STEPS diversion program and ensure he could see his daughter grow up. He also admitted falsifying an earlier claim that an individual named Jerry Johnson was financially backing White.

Childhood Friend and Police Testify as Trial Continues

As testimony progressed into Wednesday—which NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth and FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth identified as Day 7 of the trial, while live updates syndicated by Yahoo Entertainment and WFAA counted Monday as Day 5 and Tuesday as Day 6—prosecutors called additional witnesses to establish a motive and connection between the defendants.

Cedric Bradley, a childhood friend of Conway who is currently in federal custody facing up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy and machine gun possession, took the stand for the state.

Bradley testified that tensions involving money and drugs existed between Noble, Conway, and Trapboy Freddy. He told the jury that Kewon White confessed to him in detail, describing firing shots from his car, chasing Noble on foot on the freeway, and shooting him in the back. According to Bradley, White expressed anger that he had not received the money promised for the hit.

Prosecutors also displayed photos from October 2020 showing Bradley, Conway, and other associates aboard a private jet to Miami celebrating Conway's birthday just weeks before Noble's death. Defense attorneys countered by questioning Bradley's motives for cooperating with the government, highlighting his custody status and desire to return home to his young daughter. "Your freedom here with the government is a big deal," a defense attorney remarked during cross-examination.

Jurors also heard from law enforcement witnesses.

Dallas Police Officer Nicholas Brooks, who provided off-duty security for Conway and invited the rapper to his wedding, testified that he texted Conway immediately after the freeway shooting to ask if he was involved, citing an ongoing internet feud. Additionally, Lewisville Police Officer Sean Doherty testified about an unsolved 2018 drive-by shooting that left Conway severely injured with multiple gunshot wounds, noting the case stalled because Conway refused to press charges.

The 2020 Ambush of MO3 and Legal Context

The charges stem from the November 11, 2020 killing of 28-year-old Melvin Noble Jr. on Interstate 35 in Dallas near the city zoo. Prosecutors allege the broad-daylight shooting grew out of a feud between Noble and Conway dating back to 2017. During opening arguments on October 27—one day after a marathon eight-hour selection process seated 12 jurors and three alternates—the state showed haunting video footage of the freeway ambush.

Early trial testimony featured motorists and a doctor who witnessed the shooting and testified that he feared for his own safety while attempting to help Noble.

Conway was arrested in March 2025 following a February 2025 Dallas County grand jury indictment and has pleaded not guilty to capital murder. Kewon White, identified by prosecutors as the gunman, was convicted of capital murder in September 2026 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A third defendant, Devin Brown, is also charged with capital murder for allegedly being paid by Conway to assist in the killing; court records indicate Brown's trial is expected to begin later this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can jurors use Theodore Thomas's recanted grand jury statements?

According to reporting from Vice and AllHipHop, the judge instructed jurors that they cannot treat Thomas's earlier grand jury statements as substantive proof that the claims are true.

Instead, the jury may only consider the prior statements when evaluating Thomas's overall credibility as a witness.

Why do news outlets report different trial-day numbers for the same week?

Local media outlets have used different counting methods for the two-week trial. While WFAA's live trial guide tracked testimony days starting with Monday, November 2 as Day 5 and Tuesday, November 3 as Day 6, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth and FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth referred to Wednesday, November 4 as the seventh day of proceedings, reflecting differences in how jury selection and recessed days are tallied.

What is the defense's core argument in Yella Beezy's trial?

Defense attorneys argue that investigators relied on an unsupported theory and left critical evidentiary gaps that create reasonable doubt, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The defense has focused on discrediting cooperating witnesses like Thomas and Bradley by pointing out that both men faced decades or life in federal prison and stood to benefit from giving prosecutors a narrative linking Conway to the crime.

Sources