Murder convictions of 2 former YSL defendants upheld by Georgia Supreme Court
The Brief
The Georgia Supreme Court upheld the murder convictions of Damone Blalock and Rodalius Ryan for the 2019 killing of Jamari Holmes, affirming their life sentences and rejecting claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.
The defendants argued their attorneys failed to challenge key testimony, present exculpatory Instagram messages, and investigate an alibi, but the court found no evidence these actions would have changed the trial's outcome.
Blalock and Ryan were later indicted in the 2022 Young Slime Life (YSL) RICO case, but the Supreme Court's ruling ensures their murder convictions and life sentences remain unaffected.
ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder convictions of two former YSL (Young Slime Life) defendants – Damone "Bali" Blalock and Rodalius "Lil Rod" Ryan -- for the 2019 killing of Jamari Holmes, affirming the life sentences handed down in the case.
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Blalock and Ryan were convicted in 2019 for the malice murder of Holmes and the aggravated assault of two others.
What we know
On appeal, they argued that their trial attorneys provided ineffective assistance by failing to challenge a witness's invocation of the Fifth Amendment in front of the jury and by not objecting to jury instructions on how to interpret the invocation.
However, the court ruled that their attorneys' decision to strategically use the testimony rather than objecting was reasonable and that some of the witness's answers actually supported the defense, negating claims of deficient representation.
The defendants also argued that their attorneys failed to present Instagram messages suggesting the victims had returned fire during the incident, which could have cast doubt on the prosecution's narrative.
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What they're saying
The Supreme Court rejected this claim, finding no evidence that the messages would have changed the trial's outcome. The messages did not undermine forensic evidence showing the fatal bullet came from outside the victims' vehicle, nor did they significantly challenge testimony implicating Blalock and Ryan as the shooters, according to the Supreme Court.
Additionally, Ryan argued his counsel failed to investigate an alibi that could have proven he was not present at the scene. The court found that the decision to forgo the alibi defense was a reasonable strategic choice given inconsistencies in the evidence and the overall strength of the prosecution's case.
Blalock and Ryan were later indicted in 2022 alongside Atlanta rapper Young Thug in a sweeping RICO case involving the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang.
ORIGINAL STORY: Rapper Young Thug, associates arrested for RICO Act charges in Atlanta
Prosecutors alleged the Holmes murder was one of over 190 acts committed in furtherance of gang activity.
Ryan, the youngest YSL defendant, pled guilty on Oct. 30, 2024, to a single RICO charge and received a 10-year sentence commuted to time served.
Blalock's RICO charges were dropped after other co-defendants were acquitted of related charges.
RELATED: YSL RICO case: Prosecutors drop charges against 6 defendants
What's next
Despite their involvement in the high-profile RICO case, the Georgia Supreme Court's decision ensures their convictions and life sentences for the Holmes murder remain intact.
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