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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - As an ailing key prosecution witness remains in custody, Young Thug’s criminal trial resumes Wednesday, as the attorney for Quindarrius Zachary continues his efforts to free his client from custody.

Attorney Dennis Schieb spoke exclusively to Atlanta News First on Tuesday. He said Zachary was moved to Grady Memorial Hospital after concerns for his health at the jail and is currently being held in custody there.

“[Prosecutors] want him to testify, and something that he supposedly said years ago, I don’t know if he even remembers it,” Schieb said. “I’ve talked to him. He’s been through so much. He’s been drained physically; he’s been drained mentally. They want him to testify. It’s not worth his life to get up there.”

Scheib said Zachary has a severe sickle cell disease and has been in and out of the hospital undergoing blood transfusions. The attorney said the state ordered a deputy to speak with a doctor about his condition.

“If he’s made to go back to jail, there’s a good chance he will die because they can’t deal with medical situations there like this,” Schieb said.

On Friday, Zachary (aka D, Dee and Lil’ Dee) was arrested and booked into the Fulton County Jail. On Monday, his attorney, Dennis Schieb, said Zachary was very ill and “will not survive” in the notorious facility. Scheib also said his client was arrested after receiving medical treatment at a local medical facility.

“It’s not very common to use a material witness warrant,” said legal analyst Joshua Schiffer. “The state can request the court arrest and detain the individual to ensure they appear in court. That doesn’t take in consideration anything outside of their appearance, including their medical condition, health, work or career.”

Zachary has been repeatedly mentioned throughout the trial of Jeffery Williams (Young Thug’s real name). According to recent testimony from Antonio Sledge (aka Mounk Tounk), Zachary is alleged to have been involved in a 2015 drive-by shooting along with Damekion Garlington against a suspected rival gang member.

The trial also continued Tuesday at the same time of a celebration of life service for Rich Homie Quan, the Atlanta rapper whose death shook the hip-hop and entertainment worlds two weeks ago.

Rich Homie Quan - real name Dequantes Devontay Lamar - had been listed as a possible witness in Young Thug’s historically long criminal proceeding, in which he’s facing eight criminal counts under a federal law originally enacted to fight organized crime.

In September 2014, Quan’s father, Corey Lamar, was injured when his barbershop was targeted in a shooting. Fulton County prosecutors have been trying to link the incident to an alleged criminal gang led by Young Thug.

Young Thug marked his 33rd birthday on August 16, 2024, after being arrested on May 9, 2022, along with 27 other suspected gang members in Buckhead as part of a 56-count indictment.

The trial’s jury selection lasted longer than any other in Georgia history, and actual witness testimony itself will likely surpass state records. Both records were set by the Atlanta Public Schools teacher scandal and trial of 2014-15.

The trial itself began on Nov. 27, 2023. Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the trial’s length, and Fulton County prosecutors still have more than 100 witnesses to call.

Prosecutors are attempting to show YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous offenses. Defense attorneys say YSL is not a gang but simply the name of a record label.

Williams is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

Atlanta News First is broadcasting gavel-to-gavel coverage of Young Thug’s trial on ANF+ live stream and YouTube channel, and on Roku, Fire TV and AppleTV. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest details on Young Thug’s historic trial.