YNW Melly was denied bond for a 3rd time on Monday (Might 12) in a Florida courtroom the place a choose dominated he’ll keep behind bars till his double homicide retrial begins in September.
The 25-year-old rapper, born Jamell Demons, has now spent greater than six years in custody following his 2019 arrest in reference to the taking pictures deaths of two shut mates, Christopher Thomas Jr. and Anthony Williams, each a part of the YNW music crew.
Prosecutors allege Melly staged the killings to appear like a drive-by in October 2018.
His authorized workforce pushed for pretrial launch, providing home arrest and round the clock monitoring. Additionally they cited what they described as “merciless and inhumane” therapy by the Broward County Sheriff’s Workplace throughout his incarceration.
Nevertheless, the choose wasn’t swayed, remarking, “The court docket finds no foundation for launch,” ABC 6 South Florida stories.
Prosecutors argued in opposition to bond, pointing to “overwhelming proof” together with telephone information and ballistic stories. Additionally they famous Melly is dealing with extra expenses for allegedly attempting to tamper with witnesses.
The rapper’s first trial resulted in a mistrial in July 2023 after jurors failed to achieve a unanimous verdict. If convicted within the upcoming retrial, Melly might face the dying penalty.
YNW Melly Argues Jail Situations An Try To “Break Him Psychologically”
In November 2024, Melly filed a federal lawsuit in opposition to the Broward Sheriff’s Workplace, claiming he’s been subjected to excessive isolation and denied primary human contact.
The grievance says he’s been held in administrative segregation for years, with out entry to telephone calls, visits, tv or newspapers.
The lawsuit claims Melly is being “unlawfully detained beneath situations that infringe upon First, Sixth, Eighth, Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Structure.”
His lawyer, Michael Pizzi Jr., stated, “They’re making an attempt to interrupt him psychologically and obtain a end result unattainable by means of the judicial course of. They’re to put on down mentally stopping him from even talking to or visiting along with his mom or brother.”
The grievance additionally states, “Demons is a black male whose present detention situations shock the conscience and couldn’t even be imagined this present day even in a third-world nation that has no guard rails defending human decency and dignity.”
YNW Melly’s retrial is scheduled to start in September 2025.
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