The second week of the double homicide trial of rapper YNW Melly started Tuesday with the decide denying a movement from the protection for a mistrial.
Protection attorneys had requested Broward Circuit Choose John Murphy for a mistrial final week, arguing the jury had been tainted following testimony that would not be verified from the mom of YNW Melly’s ex-girlfriend, the Solar Sentinel reported. The decide informed protection attorneys jurors could possibly be instructed to disregard statements that have been dominated inadmissible.
YNW Melly, whose authorized identify is Jamell Demons, is going through a potential dying sentence for the October 2018 deadly taking pictures of his childhood mates, Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr.
Williams and Thomas have been each a part of the YNW collective, recognized respectively as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.
Demons, Williams and Thomas have been driving in a Jeep pushed by Cortland Henry, generally known as YNW Bortlen, after a recording session in Fort Lauderdale when Demons, 24, fatally shot Williams and Thomas, prosecutors mentioned. Henry is charged as an confederate within the case however might be tried individually.
After killing Williams and Thomas, prosecutors mentioned Demons and Henry drove the our bodies to an space close to the Everglades, the place they shot on the again and passenger sides of Henry’s Jeep from the skin to make it appear to be Williams and Thomas have been the victims of a drive-by taking pictures.
Prosecutors say the taking pictures was a part of a gang motion, whereas protection attorneys say the motive lacks credibility as a result of Demons and the victims have been shut mates.
The gun used within the taking pictures has not been recovered. The primary week of trial centered totally on the bodily proof, with prosecutors establishing that the bullet casings discovered inside Demons and Henry’s car doubtless got here from the identical weapon because the casings discovered on the scene of the staged drive-by taking pictures.
Demons gained consideration along with his breakout track “Homicide on My Thoughts” in 2017. He later labored with Kanye West on “Blended Personalities,” which was launched in January 2019, a month earlier than Demons was arrested on the homicide fees.
