Rapper YNW Melly’s double-murder trial has resulted in a jury deadlock in a Florida state ruling that declared a mistrial in the shooting deaths of two of the musician’s bandmates.
YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamel Demon, has spent the past three weeks in a Florida courtroom facing manslaughter charges related to the 2018 deaths of Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas.
The two men, who were extra rappers, were shot and killed in Miramar, Florida in October 2018.
On Saturday, the Broward County Circuit ruled that John Murphy declared a mistrial after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case.
Prosecutors are expected to retry the case with a brand new jury.
Rapper YNW Melly noticed his double homicide trial with a deadlocked jury
YNW Melly risked the death penalty in the case.
A 3-week trial ended on Thursday and jury deliberations began. The commission informed Murphy on Friday that they might not decide. However, they were informed to continue talking.
On Saturday, when they still couldn’t reach a verdict, the verdict declared a mistrial.
Kortlen Henry is a co-defendant in the case and is being tried individually.
In 2018, Williams and Thomas, both former rappers, were shot senseless, investigators said.
According to police, YNW Melly and Henry conspired to make it seem like they were killed by taking pictures after the taping, according to Rolling Stone.
After two musicians were shot, their bodies were taken to the Everglades, where prosecutors YNW Melly and Henry shot up their Jeep to make it look like a driveway, according to prosecutors YNW.
Prosecutors said the killing was part of a “gang operation.” But defense prosecutors rejected that argument, saying two of the victims were YNW Melly’s spouses.
