Tuesday, March 26, 2024


Alleged Killer Of Soulja Slim Avoids Third Murder Indictment

March 22, 2007 by  
Filed under Uncategorized

After more than three years, the man accused of murdering rapper Soulja Slim has yet to be indicted for the slaying.

The rapper’s murder is one of three first-degree murder cases prosecutors have refused to bring against Garelle Smith.

The 25-year-old was arrested but never charged in the Nov. 26, 2003 murder of Soulja Slim.

Prosecutors originally said they dropped the murder charges against Smith because they were strengthening their case against him.

Smith was already behind bars for a Dec. 2003 murder.

Smith avoided being charged a third time on Monday (Mar. 19) for the capital murder of Mandell Duplessis. Duplessis, 24, was slain outside a FEMA trailer in Gentilly.

The evidence against Smith was far too thin to back up a capital murder charge, investigators told The Times-Picayune.

Soulja Slim, born James Tapp, was shot three times in the face outside of his mothers house, in what authorities described as a hit that Smith completed for $10,000.

The weapon used in the killing, a .40-caliber Glock pistol, was later determined to be a New Orleans Police Department-issued weapon, that was stolen from an officer’s house.

In addition to Soulja Slim, Smith was accused of killing 28-year-old Spencer Smith Jr. on Dec. 11, 2003.

Smith has yet to stand trial for another murder in Orleans Parish.

By Chris Richburg


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