A deadlocked jury resulted in a mistrial on Saturday during the South Florida trial of rapper YNW Melly, who faced charges of murdering two of his friends five years ago.
- Jury Deadlocked After Three Days of Deliberations
Despite three days of deliberations, the 12-member panel could not reach a unanimous verdict. Prosecutors in Broward County, who are pursuing the death sentence, now have the option of retrying the case in front of a new jury. A unanimous decision is required to either convict or acquit the defendant.
- Judge Relents After Repeated Deliberations
After twice urging the jurors to continue deliberating, Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy finally relented when they came back a third time with no resolution.
- Prosecution Alleges Gang-Related Shooting
The prosecution's case asserts that YNW Melly, legally known as Jamell Demons, shot Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. while they were all inside a Jeep. Williams and Thomas belonged to the YNW group that went by the names YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.
- Defense Disputes Gang Action Claims
On the other hand, the defense attorneys argue that the claim of a gang-related action lacks credibility, given the close friendship between Demons and the victims.
- Timeline of the Incident
According to the prosecutors, the incident occurred after a recording session in Fort Lauderdale on October 26, 2018. Williams and Thomas, two demons, were travelling in Cortland Henry's Jeep, also known as YNW Bortlen. They allege that Demons fatally shot Williams and Thomas. Henry is charged as an accomplice and will face a separate trial.
- Bodies Moved to Conceal the Crime
After the killings, the prosecutors claim that Demons and Henry drove the bodies to a location near the Everglades, where they shot at the back and passenger sides of Henry's Jeep from the outside, attempting to make it appear as though Williams and Thomas were victims of a drive-by shooting.
- Ballistics Tests Contradict Defense Claims
However, prosecutors counter these claims by presenting ballistics tests suggesting the pair were shot inside the Jeep.
- Missing Firearm and Motive
The defense lawyers emphasized the fact that the murder weapon was never recovered. Additionally, they highlighted that YNW Melly had no apparent motive for the crime.
- YNW Melly's Background
YNW Melly rose to prominence in 2017 and later collaborated with Kanye West on "Mixed Personalities," released in January 2019, just a month before the 24-year-old Demons was arrested on murder charges.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case remains under scrutiny, and the fate of YNW Melly lies in the hands of the justice system.
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