YNW Melly will remain in jail as he awaits a retrial for double murder, following a Florida judge’s decision to deny his request for house arrest.
On Monday, Broward Circuit Court Judge Martin Fein ruled against the rapper’s motion to set bond, citing the strength of the state’s evidence and its consistency with the record from Melly’s initial trial.
Fein reviewed testimony from the first proceedings and arguments presented during a recent Arthur hearing, which permits bail considerations in otherwise non-bailable cases. In his written order, Fein stated that the prosecution’s evidence “is arguably sufficient to convict” and wasn’t “contradicted in a material respect” to create doubt about Melly’s guilt.
Jamie King, YNW Melly’s mother, would comment on the Judge’s ruling, claiming her son’s defense didn’t do enough to convince Judge Fein. She wrote on Instagram, “It was denied because the defense did not put on any evidence or witnesses at the bond hearing. We are not done fighting.”
Melly’s attorneys proposed strict house arrest terms, including 24-hour security and GPS monitoring, and argued that he posed no flight risk. They noted he lacks a passport and has remained in custody without incident since 2019. Prosecutor Justin Griffis pushed back, pointing to the serious nature of the charges—two counts of first-degree murder and witness tampering—as grounds to keep him incarcerated.
The 26-year-old rapper, born Jamell Demons, is accused of fatally shooting his close friends Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. on October 26, 2018. Prosecutors allege Melly staged the killings to resemble a drive-by shooting after a late-night recording session in Fort Lauderdale. Both victims were aspiring artists within the YNW collective.
Melly’s first trial concluded in a mistrial in July 2023 after jurors declared they were hopelessly deadlocked. A subsequent bond request submitted to Judge John Murphy, who presided over the original case before retiring, was also denied. Families of the victims have consistently opposed any attempt to release Melly on bail.
The case has since grown more complicated. Murphy’s ruling to suppress digital evidence—data pulled from Melly’s phone, social media, and emails—prompted an appeal from prosecutors, stalling momentum for the retrial. That suppression became a major flashpoint, triggering a reshuffling of the prosecution team and further delays.
Meanwhile, Melly’s civil rights attorney, Michael Pizzi, filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing the Broward Sheriff’s Office of violating his client’s constitutional rights. The suit claims Melly has endured long-term isolation and been denied access to legal counsel. That case is ongoing in Miami federal court.
As it stands, Melly’s retrial is set for September. But with legal complications mounting and key evidence still in question, the road ahead remains uncertain.
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