YNW Melly murder trial Archives

Today In Hip Hop History: The YNW Melly Double Murder Trial Began One Year Ago

June 12, 2024 by newhiphopnews

YNWMelly'sEarlyReleaseDeniedDespiteCOVID Diagnosis

On this date in 2023, the double murder trial of Jamell Demons aka YNW Melly began, with opening statements from the prosecution and the defense also given on the same day. Melly was charged and arrested for the premeditated murders in the first-degree of Anthony D’Andre Williams (YNW Sakchaser) and Christopher Jermaine Thomas Jr. (YNW Juvy).

The case goes back to October 2018, when Demons and Cortlen Malik Henry (YNW Bortlen), allegedly shot and killed their fellow crew members YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but later claimed that the two were murdered in a drive-by shooting. Following a grand jury indictment of Demons and Henry for the murders, Demons and Henry were arrested on February 13, 2019 and charged with the premeditated first-degree murders of Williams and Thomas. Demons pleaded not guilty.

The trial gained national notoriety not just because Melly’s most notable single was called “Murder On My Mind”, but also if Melly is convicted of these murders, he could possibly face the death penalty. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has a new non-unanimous death sentence law, in which the jury will only need to have at least eight out of twelve jurors agree to recommend the death penalty rather than it being unanimous.

On July 22, 2023, Judge John Murphy declared a mistrial after the jury remained deadlocked on the charges, with a 9-to-3 vote in favor of convicting Demons on the lesser offenses of manslaughter.

As of June 2024, there is no verdict in the YNW Melly case. The rapper’s retrial for the double murder of his associates is currently on hold due to an appeal filed by prosecutors concerning the admissibility of a documentary film as evidence. This appeal has caused an indefinite delay in the retrial proceedings. While Melly’s defense team has requested to move forward with the discovery phase of the trial, the judge has not yet ruled on this request pending the outcome of the appeal. The case remains ongoing, and it is unclear when the retrial will resume or when a verdict will be reached.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The YNW Melly Double Murder Trial Began One Year Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The YNW Melly Double Murder Trial Began One Year Ago appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] YNW Melly Under Fire For Blowing Kiss In Courtroom During Double Murder Trial

June 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

YNW Melly is currently one of Hip Hop’s most watched trials, as the double murder trial is being livestreamed from the courtroom, with the antics from the defendant and his attorneys receiving the most attention.On day one, the lawyer for YNW Melly was shown trying to mask her conversation with her client with a “evil plans and stuff notebook”. Now, Melly himself is being scrutinized for praying before blowing a kiss during court proceedings.

Around the 40 second mark of the above news clip, Melly, whose given name is Jamell Demons, can be seen in what appears to be meditative prayer with his hands clasped before blowing a kiss and extending his arms out.

Critics are questioning the actions of the 24-year-old in the courtroom with one of the victims’ mothers even stating that he shouldn’t be praying.

“I walked out because…what are you praying for?,” said the victims’ mother. “You sitting over there like you got no remorse. Every time I walk in the courtroom, you’re smiling. This ain’t the time for that. This case is sad. This is serious.”

The post [WATCH] YNW Melly Under Fire For Blowing Kiss In Courtroom During Double Murder Trial appeared first on The Source.

Judge Allows Jurors To Vote On Whether To Give YNW Melly The Death Penalty

June 5, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Reports have confirmed that a judge in South Florida is going to allow jurors in YNW Melly’s trial to recommend a death sentence with an 8-4 vote instead of a unanimous vote.

Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy is allowing the jurors to decide if Melly, who is facing two counts of first-degree murder, should face the death penalty or serve the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, will be going on trial for the murders of his deceased crew members Chris Thomas, 20, aka YNW Juvy, and Anthony Williams, 21, aka YNW Sakchaser back in 2018.

Judge Murphy said his decision, “was not fundamentally unfair for [Melly]… nor would it violate his right to due process of the law.”

Melly’s trial is set to begin later this month ad he will be one of the first people to be tried under this new law allowing jurors to vote o a defendant’s life or death.

Melly has plead not guilty and currently sits behind bars with no bond.

The post Judge Allows Jurors To Vote On Whether To Give YNW Melly The Death Penalty appeared first on The Source.

YNW Melly Says He is “In Fear For My Life” in Jail

December 13, 2022 by newhiphopnews

YNW Melly Makes Accusations of Unfair Treatment in Jail

Rapper YNW Melly appears to be experiencing some serious struggles in jail as he await his murder trial, going so far as to say that he is being threatened by jail staff and that he fears for his life.

On Monday, the artist took to Instagram, sharing two separate uploads of mugshots, describing allegations of what may be considered cruel and unusual punishment and a violation of his civil rights at Broward County Jail in For Lauderdale, Florida.

The first caption reads as follows:

“As of this moment today I am officially in fear of my life. A new Captain named Hubert and XO Jenkins have taken over the jail for two weeks now and have handed out even harsher punishments for me then the previous ones in place. Since December 1 I have been moved and housed on a unit that holds 24 inmates at once. I am the only inmate being housed on the vacant unit, with no phone privilege, no television and no access to a newspaper. They are watching my every move on camera making sure I don’t use the phone to tell the world how I am being mistreated, discriminated, threatened physically, harassed. When I come out of my cell for the 1 hour a day, all other inmates in the adjoining dorms must go back in there cell. I am being subjected to cruel and unusual treatment at the hands of deputies and high-ranking staff of the Broward Sheriffs Office. I have been threatened by Deputies, Lieutenants and Sergeants that say “they will hide me from the world” and threaten to “beat my ass everyday and if I tell my lawyers they will lie and say I hit them first.” Words from Sergeant Anthony Kidd and Lieutenant Jean Baptiste. I have literally been hidden from the World so I have no other choice but to believe the next step is them beating ½ to death like they do to other inmates almost daily here at the main jail in Broward County.”

Melly also tagged several local and national news channels at the end of the post.

In a second post, he shared another mugshot and wrote:

“I cant call my family or lawyers to notify them if I have been beaten or harassed. They say my phone privileges are taken permanently because all of the infractions over the last seven months. THAT IS A LIE! They took my phone privileges indefinitely off of my 1″ violation for using another inmates pin to talk on the phone when I am not allowed to use the phone.
If I had been treated like every other inmate at this facility my phone pin would have been restored and phone privileges given back after 30 days per the handbook. I have however went without phone privileges since MAY 8, 2022 and have not been given back my phone pin since the first year I was here. I have served all my disciplinary time so why are my phone privileges still taken. Why am I the ONLY inmate on a unit by themselves BLOCKED from any human interaction? There are inmates here, that have been convicted, of orchestrating robberies over the jail phone and another who planned an escape from jail that was carried out over the jail phone, they are still allowed to use the phone after committing serious crimes and security threats to the facility. But my phone privileges are taken indefinitely for violating a harmless phone policy that carries a punishment of 30 days max!!! I am housed and surrounded in the care of power struck deputies and captains of high authority that even have told me to my face that “they don’t like me” and “I pissed them off”. I am not safe in the hands of these people especially if the highest in command in the jail “doesn’t like me”. I am in fear of my life. My family is in fear of my life. I can not do another day here. Someone please help me get moved to another county jail until my trial. PLEASE!”

The artist, whose real name is Jamell Demons, was arrested in 2019 in conjunction with a double homicide of two of his friends and has been charged with premeditated murder. His trial was set to begin in March of 2022, but has been delayed. There is no clear expected start date.

The post YNW Melly Says He is “In Fear For My Life” in Jail appeared first on The Source.

Judge Rules That YNW Melly’s Tattoos May Be Used in Murder Trial

April 14, 2022 by newhiphopnews

The state of Florida’s case against YNW Melly (Jamell Demons) may grow stronger if the prosecution has its way and the rapper’s tattoos are admitted into evidence in his murder trial.

Earlier this week, a Broward County judge presiding over the murder trial ruled that Melly’s tattoos could be photographed but has not yet ruled whether the photographs will be admissible as evidence for the prosecution. According to the prosecution, Melly’s tattoos show his alleged gang affiliation. The prosecutor alleges that Melly’s gang affiliation was the motivating factor that led to the murder of Melly’s friends Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams in 2018.

However, among the 22-year-old’s numerous visible tattoos are two names tattooed on his neck in capital letters: “JANA” and “JAMIE.” Jamie is his mother and Jana is the mother of Anthony, one of his alleged victims. This might raise a question about why Melly would murder her son if the families were close.

Additionally, the prosecution alleges that lyrics from the rapper’s single, “Murder On My Mind,” show motive, opportunity, and propensity for the murder. However, the single dropped 18 months before he allegedly committed the murder.

Melly has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

The post Judge Rules That YNW Melly’s Tattoos May Be Used in Murder Trial appeared first on The Source.