Global Courant
The second week of the double murder trial against rapper YNW Melly began Tuesday with the judge rejecting a defense motion for a mistrial.
Defense attorneys had last week asked Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy for a mistrial, arguing the jury was tainted after testimony that could not be verified from the mother of YNW Melly’s ex-girlfriend, the Sun Sentinel reported. The judge told defense attorneys that jurors could be instructed to disregard statements that were ruled inadmissible.
YNW Melly, whose legal name is Jamell Demons, is facing a possible death sentence for the fatal October 2018 shooting of his childhood friends, Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr.
Williams and Thomas were both part of the YNW collective, known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy respectively.
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The second week of the trial for rapper YNW Melly’s double murder case began as the defense’s motion for a mistrial was denied by the judge. (Fox news)
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Demons, Williams and Thomas were riding in a jeep driven by Cortland Henry, known as YNW Bortlen, after a recording session in Fort Lauderdale when Demons, 26, fatally shot Williams and Thomas, prosecutors said. Henry is charged with complicity in the case, but will be tried separately.
After killing Williams and Thomas, prosecutors said Demons and Henry took the bodies to an area near the Everglades, where they fired into the back and passenger side of Henry’s Jeep from the outside to make it look like Williams and Thomas were killing it. were a victim of a ride. -by shooting.
Prosecutors say the shooting was part of a gang act, while defense lawyers say the motive is implausible because Demons and the victims were close friends.
The weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered. The first week of the trial focused primarily on the physical evidence, with prosecutors determining that the shell casings found in Demon’s and Henry’s vehicle were likely from the same gun as those found at the scene of the staged drive-by. shooting.
Demons gained attention with his breakthrough song “Murder on My Mind” in 2017. He later collaborated with Kanye West on “Mixed Personalities”, which was released in January 2019, a month before Demons was arrested on murder charges.
