Rapper YNW Melly Faces Death Penalty; Sentencing Requires 8 Votes from a 12-Member Jury
In 2019, prosecutors handling the case of rapper of YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, revealed that they would be seeking the death penalty, and although the motion was dropped in July 2022, it was reimposed.
Now, the judge presiding over the case has made it more likely for YNW Melly to receive the death sentence if found guilty, as although he needed all 12 votes from the jury to be sentenced before, Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy will abide by the newly introduced statute pushed by Florida Governor Ron Disantis because of the dire crime situation in the United States.
The new statute proposes that the death penalty can be recommended if 8 out of the 12 jury members vote in its favour.
YNW Melly has been jailed at Broward County Jail since he was refused bail in 2019. Accused of killing two of his former friends on October 26, 2018, Melly pleaded not guilty in 2019 on two counts of first-degree murder for shooting 21-year-old YNW Sakchaser (Anthony Williams) and 20-year-old YNW Juvy (Chris Thomas).
Reports state that Melly shot the two men in the back seat of a car and they were later said to be victims of a drive-by shooting.
The car was driven by Cortlen Henry, known as YNW Bortlen, who took the bodies to Memorial Hospital in Miramar, Florida, where he told police his statement of the shooting.
The Murder On My Mind rapper has had his trial date pushed back on multiple occasions as both parties in the case debated on if the death penalty will be allowed and the addition of specific evidence.
Selection for the members of the 12-man jury began in April of this year and opening statements for the trial are predicted to commence in the week of June 20, 2023.
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