Kewon White, the man sentenced to life in prison for murdering Dallas rapper Mo3, is fighting to overturn his conviction after his attorneys alleged that a juror repeatedly fell asleep during critical testimony.
According to FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, White’s legal team filed a motion requesting a new trial, arguing that the juror’s behavior deprived him of his right to have 12 attentive jurors consider the evidence. The filing claims the woman repeatedly dozed off during the eight days of testimony in the Mo3 murder trial.
“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 motion states.
White’s attorneys claim the sleeping was noticeable throughout the proceedings. Rather than an isolated moment of fatigue, the defense alleges the juror repeatedly fell asleep for several minutes, woke up, and eventually dozed off again while witnesses presented evidence.
“The juror’s sleep was open and obvious,” defense attorney Bree West stated in a declaration cited by FOX 4. “She would slouch down and lean back in her chair with her head tilted back, or her head would drop forward. While she was in that state, she was not watching the witness, the attorneys, or the exhibits being displayed.”
The defense further alleges that prosecutors and defense attorneys repeatedly brought the issue to Judge Chika Anyiam’s attention during the Mo3 murder trial. However, the motion claims the judge either took no corrective action or briefly paused proceedings before allowing testimony to resume.
In one incident described in the filing, the juror reportedly appeared physically unwell while slumped in her seat. Although she indicated she could continue serving, the judge eventually ended proceedings for the day following discussions with attorneys.
Defense attorney Myra McIntosh also submitted a statement distinguishing the situation from ordinary courtroom fatigue. According to FOX 4, McIntosh argued that the juror spent several hours intermittently sleeping, potentially missing testimony from important witnesses and evidence presented to the jury.
That distinction is central to White’s request. His attorneys are not simply arguing that a juror appeared tired. They contend that her alleged inability to remain awake prevented her from meaningfully participating in the trial, effectively denying White the full jury guaranteed under Texas law.
The defense’s challenge now raises questions about how the court addressed the alleged misconduct and whether the juror missed evidence significant enough to undermine the conviction. The allegations have not been established as grounds for a new trial, and a judge must evaluate the legal arguments before any relief is granted.
The new motion is separate from White’s previously filed appeal. According to FOX 4’s September 22 reporting, White had already filed a notice of appeal seeking review of his conviction. Under Texas procedural rules, Judge Anyiam has a 75-day window following sentencing to act on a motion for a new trial. She can grant the request, deny it, schedule a hearing, or allow the motion to be denied without an express ruling.
The legal challenge comes just weeks after White was convicted in one of Dallas hip hop’s most closely watched murder cases.
Mo3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, was fatally shot on November 11, 2020, while traveling along Interstate 35E in Dallas. He was 28 years old.
According to the Associated Press, investigators said White approached Mo3 with a firearm after both vehicles stopped on the highway. Mo3 reportedly attempted to escape on foot as shots were fired. A bystander inside another vehicle was also wounded but survived. Mo3 later died at a hospital.
Investigators identified White as a suspect, and he was arrested in December 2020. He subsequently received a federal prison sentence in a separate firearm case before his capital murder prosecution reached trial.
The investigation eventually expanded to include Dallas rapper Yella Beezy, whose legal name is Markies Conway. In March 2025, a Dallas County grand jury indicted Conway on a capital murder charge, alleging that he arranged to pay White to kill Mo3.
Prosecutors have described the shooting as a murder for hire plot connected to an ongoing dispute between the two rappers. Those allegations against Conway remain unresolved, and he has pleaded not guilty.
During White’s trial, prosecutors presented surveillance footage, witness testimony, and financial evidence they argued connected him to the killing. FOX 4 also reported that jurors heard testimony involving alleged payments and were shown rap lyrics prosecutors sought to connect to their theory of the case.
White’s defense challenged the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence and argued that the state had failed to prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, the jury ultimately disagreed.
According to CBS Texas, jurors found White guilty of capital murder on September 4, 2026, after approximately three hours of deliberations. Judge Anyiam sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
White’s conviction marked the first guilty verdict among the defendants charged in connection with Mo3’s killing.
The case remains active as prosecutors prepare to try Yella Beezy separately. Conway’s trial is scheduled to begin October 26, 2026, following a postponement that allowed his attorneys additional time to obtain and review the transcript from White’s proceedings.
Another defendant, Devin Brown, also faces a capital murder charge related to the shooting. His case remains separate from White’s conviction and Conway’s upcoming trial.
For White, the immediate issue is whether the alleged sleeping juror compromised the integrity of the Mo3 murder trial. His attorneys must persuade the court that the reported misconduct justifies setting aside a verdict that carries a mandatory life sentence.
Until a judge rules otherwise, White’s conviction and life sentence remain in effect.
