JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The defense in the high-profile murder trial of two men accused of killing 13-year-old Prince Holland is seeking to exclude YouTube rap videos and social media posts as evidence, arguing that the content is irrelevant and prejudicial.

Marcel Johnson and Kentrevious Garard appeared in court Friday for a hearing that could affect the presentation of evidence in their upcoming double trial.

Holland was fatally shot in 2022 while riding in a car home from football tryouts in the Moncrief area.

Prosecutors contend the videos, including Instagram Live posts and YouTube clips, establish connections to the shooting and suggest identification of the murder weapon. A key part of the state’s argument was that the videos show a firearm linked to the crime.

“What the state’s going to argue is a gun is the murder weapon, but at least there’s a firearm that could have been used on the scene,” said the lead prosecutor.

Defense attorneys countered that the videos show Garrard only in the background while co-defendant Johnson raps, sometimes with a gun. They argued the videos contain improper character evidence, including racially charged language and gestures not connected to the shooting.

“The danger here, Judge, is the jury would see my client making these racial slurs, cursing, gesturing with his hands like guns, waving a handgun that isn’t even alleged to be part of this case,” Johnson’s defense attorney said. “None of that proves who committed the crime. It only paints my client as the type of person who may be guilty because of the lifestyle that he lives.”

The prosecution was unable to present the actual redacted videos in court Friday, prompting the judge to delay a ruling. He said he needs to review the edited footage carefully before deciding what may be shown to jurors.

“I don’t think I can really… until I look at the redacted video,” Judge Jeb Branham said. “Even in the absence of that, we probably have to weigh in to some degree how I think the redacted video meets with my order.”

A final decision on the admissibility of the videos is expected at a follow-up hearing scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Duval County Courthouse.