mistrial

YNW Melly Verdict: Judge Declares Mistrial

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Judge John J. Murphy III has officially declared a mistrial in the case of YNW Melly. Melly had been accused of the murders of two YNW members in 2018. Furthermore, Melly was accused of bringing the two men to a local hospital, claiming they had been shot in a drive-by shooting. After Melly declined to testify earlier this week, the jurors entered deliberation. However, it quickly became clear the 12-person panel was divided and had reached an impasse. Judge Murphy III handed down an Allen charge, threatening to declare a mistrial if a verdict was not reached.

The mistrial ruling came a little over an hour after Bryson “Boom” Paul reported that the jurors had requested to see the damaged cell phone of one of the victims, YNW Juvy. However, a mistrial ruling does not mean that Melly is a free man just yet.

Read More: YNW Melly’s lawyer compares him to Snoop Dogg in closing arguments

What Does A Mistrial Mean?

So what is a mistrial? Well, a mistrial can be declared for a number of reasons. However, the YNW Melly scenario, a deadlock or hung jury, is one of the more common. According to the Fully Informed Jury Association, “In the event of a mistrial, the defendant is not convicted, but neither is the defendant acquitted. An acquittal results from a not guilty verdict and cannot be appealed by the prosecution, overturned by the judge, or retried. When there is a mistrial, however, the case may be retried.” In short, a mistrial means that the trial was essentially ruled invalid. A decision was not reached, leaving the defendant’s “guilt” in limbo.

While the concept of double jeopardy exists (the Constitutional protection of being tried for the same crime twice), mistrials are generally granted by judges in the United States. So Melly is not “free” in the full sense of the word. However, from the Fully Informed Jury Association again, “Functionally, a hung jury is far better for the defendant than a conviction.” So, for the time being, Melly has been given a little breathing room. However, this saga is likely far from over.

[via Bryson “Boom” Paul][via][via]

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YNW Melly Judge Will Grant Mistrial If Jury Remains In Deadlock

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YNW Melly is nearing closer to finding out his fate in his Broward County double murder trial. Like most high-profile cases, we’ve seen plenty of ups and downs over the weeks. For the most part, recent updates have appeared to be leaning in the prosecution’s favour. However, on Friday (July 21), Cathy Russon reported from the courthouse that the death-qualified jury serving the case is struggling to come to a final decision. Earlier this afternoon they sent a note indicating deadlock, explaining that “everyone is stuck on which side they’ve chosen.”

The state suggested that the judge read the Allen Charge, while the defense and judge agree that this note “doesn’t necessarily say they ARE deadlocked, just what if that happens.” Since then, further updates from Russon have indicated that Melly’s jurors are in fact struggling to come to an agreement. In response, they’ve been asked to attempt their deliberations one final time. If at that point they’re still unable to reach a consensus, a mistrial will be granted.

Read More: YNW Melly’s Lawyer Compares Him To Snoop Dogg

YNW Melly Double Murder Trial Jury in Deadlock

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The 23-year-old’s attorneys filed a motion for a mistrial earlier this month but were ultimately denied their request. It’s worth noting that if the jury fails to reach a consensus today, Melly won’t necessarily be free. If the prosecution refiles its case, the process will begin again, marking another rollercoaster of emotions for the Florida native and his family.

Russon’s latest update came minutes ago, revealing that the jury has sent out another note, specifically a question for the judge. Social media is eagerly awaiting more information, and we’ll be sure to provide it as it comes.

Read More: YNW Melly Will Not Testify, Defense & Prosecution Rest Their Cases

Judge Will Grant Mistrial if Jury Remains in Deadlock

See a snippet from the Law & Crime live stream where it was confirmed that a mistrial will be granted if the jury is unable to reach a decision below. Do you have any predictions as to what YNW Melly’s fate might be when all is said and done? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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[Via]

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Judge Denies YNW Melly’s Team’s Motion For Mistrial

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YNW Melly is currently on trial, accused of killing two of his friends, YNW Juvy and YNW SakChaser. The murders took place in 2018, and Melly has been in jail since 2019 for his alleged crimes. His trial continued today, and this morning his defense moved for a mistrial. According to Bryson “Boom” Paul, the team claimed that Melly’s character is being called into question amid the public legal battle. “We ask that the court put a stop to this,” David A. Howard told the judge. Judge John Murphy reportedly denied the defense’s motion.

The ongoing trial has been fairly controversial. Melly’s defense claims that the two men were killed in a drive-by shooting, which experts have called unlikely. According to a testimony by detective Sgt. Christopher Williams last month, the alleged victims’ gunshot wounds point to shots being fired from within the vehicle. If Melly is found guilty of the alleged murders, he will be facing the death penalty.

Read More: YNW Melly Trial: Victim’s Sister Allegedly Threatens Melly’s Mom

Melly’s Defense Says His Character Is Being “Tainted”

There is some evidence currently stacked in Melly’s favor, however. Investigators were unable to find his DNA inside the murder vehicle back in 2018. Further, no gunpowder residue was found on Melly’s person on the night of the alleged murders. According to earlier reports, as of yesterday YNW Melly’s mother Jamie King now has her own security. Law & Crime’s Terri Austin says that King was allegedly threatened online by the sister of one of the victims.

A testimony earlier this week by a friend of Melly’s, Treveon Glass, puts the 23-year-old at the home of rapper Fredo Bang the night of the alleged murders. According to Glass, Melly was wearing different clothing than what he was seen wearing in surveillance footage previously shown to jurors. Melly’s trial has continued to spike the rapper’s streaming numbers. People have even started placing bets online as to whether he’ll be found guilty or not. Regardless, the trial has been a hotly debated one, with stakes remaining high for the accused.

Read More: YNW Melly’s Friend Says He Should’ve Smoked Before Taking The Witness Stand

[Via][Via]

The post Judge Denies YNW Melly’s Team’s Motion For Mistrial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YNW Melly Denied Mistrial In Double-Murder Case

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YNW Melly is currently going through a very contentious double murder trial. Currently, the rapper is facing double-murder charges for the alleged executions of YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy. These murders took place in 2018, and Melly has been locked up for almost five years at this point. However, the trial is finally taking place, and many are watching it very closely. Although, there have certainly been some confusing twists and turns in just one week of deliberations.

So far, the prosecution has had a difficult time presenting evidence. For instance, the judge denied the use of Snapchat memories. Moreover, they also denied the use of the song “Murder On My Mind.” Additionally, there have been some hostile witnesses who have called out the prosecution for allegedly pressuring them into their testimony. This all subsequently led to a motion for a mistrial on Thursday. Melly’s lead attorney wants the trial thrown out, and over the weekend, Judge Murphy III got to think about a potential decision. According to reporter Bryson “Boom” Paul, that decision was handed down this morning.

Read More: YNW Melly’s 2015 Interrogation Footage Surfaces Online Amid Double-Murder Trial

YNW Melly Gets Unfavorable Ruling

In the tweet above, Paul confirms that the judge denied the motion for a mistrial. This means Melly will remain on trial for the next couple of weeks. Depending on how the trial progresses, this could take longer than anyone would have expected. Moreover, a juror is currently hospitalized, and Paul reported that Melly’s trial will pick back up again at around 1:30 PM EST. Needless to say, the day hasn’t even begun and the trial is already making headlines.

This is a trial that has had a lot of anticipation around it. Fans have been waiting years to see what would happen, and so far, we know even less about what happened than we did before. Either way, this is a developing story, so stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the music world. Also, let us know what you think about all of this, down below.

Read More: Wack 100 Defends YNW Melly After Alleged Interrogation Footage Surfaces

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YNW Melly’s Lead Attorney Motions For Mistrial

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On the fourth day of YNW Melly’s double murder trial, his case took an interesting and possibly foreboding turn. Moreover, correspondent Bryson “Boom” Paul reported via Twitter that the rapper’s lead attorney, David A. Howard, requested a mistrial in the case. It’s unclear, at least based on Paul’s initial report, what the motive behind the motion was. Other reports suggest that the mistrial was suggested by the defense after the state brought in evidence that caused too much prejudice in the trial. For those unaware, this refers to evidence that does not further the facts of the case, but rather creates a bias in favor of or in this case against the defendant.

In any case, it seems like the involvement of family members, ex-girlfriends, leaked DMs, and more have cause the jury to become too tainted in the defense’s eyes. Furthermore, Paul reported that Judge Murphy III took the motion for a mistrial under advisement. The court will discuss on Tuesday, June 20 once trial resumes. Until that day comes, this is the last we will hear of YNW Melly’s case in the courtroom.

Read More: YNW Juvy’s Mom Says She Walked Out When YNW Melly Blew Kiss In Court

YNW Melly Defense Requests Mistrial

Regardless, debate erupted online as to whether this motion actually means that the Gifford native will walk. Many on Twitter pointed out that it is up to the judge to determine whether a mistrial is in order. As such, celebrations of the request from the “Mixed Personalities” MC’s supporters are moot until it’s approved. Others claimed that if the court deems a case a mistrial on prejudice, then the defendant cannot be tried again. However, this seems to be mostly speculative and largely unconfirmed by the courts, reporters, or other trusted sources. In most cases, an approved mistrial still allows the defendant to be tried again.

In addition, the court’s decision will paint what this mistrial represents: an effort to preserve justice or to dismiss relevant evidence. While it for now seems to fall under the former category, no one can truly know for sure. This is also another potential victory after the court sided with the 24-year-old by not allowing other evidence to be presented based on prejudice. For the latest news and updates on the YNW Melly case, log back into HNHH.

Read More: YNW Juvy’s Father Says Money Dispute Could Have Been A Motive For YNW Melly

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Judge Denies Mistrial Request In YSL Case

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Chief Judge Ural Glanville has denied the request for a mistrial in the YSL RICO case. The defense filed the motion after a video recently leaked of investigators interrogating a man for the case. It’s unclear where the blame for the leaked video stems from. Both the prosecution and defense have refused to take responsibility. The update comes from Jozsef Papp, a crime and public safety reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Judge Glanville said he plans to order an investigation into a leaked video that was shared in [sic] social media involving a state witness being questioned by investigators. Motion for mistrial is denied but Glanville is allowing lawyers to ask potential jurors about the video,” Papp wrote on Twitter, Wednesday, before noting that Glanville remarked, “I’m blaming everybody.” He continued: “Glanville gave them a warning that if it happens again, he will restrict attorneys to only be able to view discovery in his chambers.”

Young Thug In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 17: Rapper Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

News of the denial comes after an attorney representing defendant Jayden Myrick requested a mistrial, back in February. They argued that the sharing of discovery material violated the client’s Sixth Amendment right to a fair and impartial jury. The motion read: “While said evidence may not directly implicate my client, it along with all of the publicity and courtroom incidents since the start of this trial that have not been the result of any conduct of my client, Jayden Myrick, make it impossible for him to receive a fair trial, as well as a jury that is honestly and truly fair and impartial.”

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has filed a motion that would mandate that defense attorneys can only view similar videos while in her office and cannot record them. In response, Defense Attorney Keith Adams said: “You don’t just file a motion and make these allegations when you’ve got absolutely no basis to back that up, and that’s what’s happened in this case.” Adams says not allowing him to make copies would limit his access to evidence that could help defend his clients and therefore would be unconstitutional. He added that he doesn’t believe a defense attorney leaked the video.

Trial Updates

[Via]

Young Thug’s Co-Defendant Seeks Mistrial

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The lengthy YSL Rico case has a new twist, with one of Young Thug’s co-defendants demanding a mistrial. Jayden Myrick, who faces charges of murder amongst others, is seeking a mistrial on the account of leaked videos. According to HipHopDX, Myrick’s attorney filed the motion on Tuesday (February 21st), on the violation of the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a fair and impartial jury. Allegedly, discovery materials circulated online despite a signed order that prohibited the sharing of such content.

Although the cited video was not specified, a 2021 interrogation of Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland has recently been revealed. In the three-and-a-half-hour footage, Lil Woody discusses information about Young Thung with investigators. “While said evidence may not directly implicate my client,” Myrick’s attorney wrote, “it along with all of the publicity and courtroom incidents since the start of this trial that have not been the result of any conduct of my client, Jayden Myrick, make it impossible for him to receive a fair trial, as well as a jury that is honestly and truly fair and impartial.”

Young Thug’s Dramatic Trial Continues

The ongoing YSL Rico trial has yielded a dramatic trial, with several of the 14 defendants accepting plea deals. During the course of the case, additional charges and mishaps have emerged, the outlet reports. In one instance, Young Thug was allegedly handed a Percocet pill by co-defendant Kahlieff Adams. The exchange was caught on camera, resulting in Adams being tased. Additionally, other defendants have been causing trouble behind bars, with one stabbing another inmate, and another spitting on a deputy.

This high-publicity case has sparked other hip hop names to chime in, even inspiring Boosie Badazz to consider a movie. Although the trial commenced in January (despite a motion to delay), it’s expected to last for six to nine months. The defendants are all on trial for their relations to YSL Rico, a “criminal street gang” responsible for numerous violent crimes in Atlanta over the past eight years. Young Thug is accused as the leader of the gang. To keep up with this ongoing trial, be sure to check back on HNHH.

[Via]

Lil Woody Interrogation Leak Leads To Mistrial Request: Report

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An attorney for defendant Jayden Myrick, aka SetTrip, in the YSL RICO case, has reportedly filed for a mistrial. The report stems from court documents published by Law&Crime Network executive producer Cathy Russon. In them, Myrick’s legal team cites the recent leak of Lil Woody’s three-hour interrogation video. The leak has been spreading all over social media in recent days. The motion says that a court order previously mandated that discovery material not be shared on social media.

New York Times music reporter Joe Coscarelli posted the motion on Twitter as well. He writes, “The leak of this 3+ hour interrogation video regarding Young Thug and YSL — which is now excerpted on every rap gossip blog in existence (with lots wrong/out of context) — has led to a motion for mistrial today by one of the defendants.” During the video, Lil Woody can be seen appearing incredibly nervous as he speaks with police investigators. He didn’t have his lawyer with him at the time.

The Court Motion

The motion cites an order that states parties involved in the case should not disseminate discovery material on social media. The request explains, “On or about Friday, February 17, 2023, discovery material was disseminated on social media in clear violation of said Order. While said evidence may not directly implicate my client, it along with all of the publicity and courtroom incidents since the start of this trial that have not been the result of any conduct of my client, Jayden Myrick, make it impossible for him to receive a fair trial, as well as a jury that is honestly and truly fair and impartial. WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully requests a hearing in this matter instanter, and, that the case against him specifically, be dismissed with prejudice.”

Young Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, who is not currently seeking a mistrial, says that he’s still “shocked and disappointed”. “The release of this video harms Mr. Williams a great deal. These are just stories,” he told Coscarelli before adding, “We need a trial by a fair and impartial jury.” Cathy Russon says that the parties are at least two months away from finalizing a jury.

[Via]

T.I. & Tiny’s Lawsuit Over OMG Dolls Declared Mistrial

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The judge for T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris‘s lawsuit against a toymaker has declared a mistrial. The ruling was handed down after jurors heard a woman testifying she “did not want to support a company that steals from African Americans and their ideas.”

The woman, Moneice Campbell, gave her testimony via recorded video. She added that “people often steal from the black community and make money off of it.”

Senior U.S. District Judge James V. Selna declared the mistrial after hearing arguments from the company, MGA Entertainment’s lawyers. They held that “inflammatory” testimony about cultural appropriation had ruined their chances of a fair trial. They also labeled the comments a “rant” that is prejudicial against the defendants.

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and T.I. attend the 51st NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/FilmMagic)

The judge had previously prohibited discussion about “cultural appropriation” as he found it to be “immaterial and impertinent” to the actual legal issues at play.

Following the ruling, MGA Entertainment provided a statement to Billboard claiming that “diversity has always been a key value” at the company. They added: “We are disappointed that the trial was cut short, but look forward to vindicating our rights in the next trial.”

MGA attorneys also wrote in a motion that challenging the testimony will only draw “further attention to it.”

T.I.’s lawyer, Erin Ranahan, tried to get the judge to reconsider the ruling.

The lawsuit is regarding the use of T.I. and Tiny’s stepdaughter’s likeness. They claim that MGA, in its series of “OMG” dolls, ripped off her look while working in the rap group OMG Girlz.

It’s unclear when a new trial could begin.

[Via]