On Friday (June 2), Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy sided with the state prosecutors’ motion to follow a new statute that allows juries to recommend a death sentence with an 8-4 vote, XXL confirmed. Previously, it had to be via unanimous decision.
The trial began on Monday (June 5), following jury selection that began in April. It’s been over four years since Melly was arrested and accused of murdering YNW Juvy (Christopher Thomas Jr.) and YNW Sakchaser (Anthony D’Andre Williams).
The trial was delayed multiple times as both sides continued to deliberate the framework of evidence being used in the courtroom.
Melly may face the death penalty for a murder case he was arrested and charged for back in 2019.
Previously, it was reported that the State of Florida is seeking out the death penalty for the rapper in regards to two counts of first-degree murder he’s facing.
The charges stem from prosecutors claiming that Melly and his co-defendant YNW Bortlen killed two members of their own YNW crew in South Florida in October, and staged their deaths to look like a drive-by shooting.
As the trial finally crept closer, YNW Melly’s mother shared a heartfelt letter the “Murder On My Mind” rapper had written to her, and again reaffirmed her son’s innocence.
“Hey ma, damn y’all made my night my whole month,” Melly wrote with hearts. “So glad I seen y’all. I hope y’all seen me. I know y’all did right when you went screamin ‘I SEE HIM’ they made you leave. [annoyed face] I’m so glad I seen you ma! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Tell Grandma & Silas I love them and appreciate them so much. It was good to see them as well.
“Dang B Slime still looked tall from way down there lol,” he continued. “You looked so small lmao jumpin up and down when u seen me.”
“I seen your smile from way up here! Lit da whole jail up! Even tho they tried to make it da worst, still you found a way to make it the BEST. I love you ma I’ma give you the world, Pluto and Mars when I get out. What u want da most too? Lol.”
Said rapper
The post also includeed a photo of Melly’s family while they were outside, holding signs that wished him a Merry Christmas.
“I will always be here to make your darkest nights bright even if I have to bring the light to you son,” his mom wrote in the caption of the post. “I love you @ynwmelly so much my 1st born.”
YNW Melly has been locked up in the Broward County Jail since his arrest on two counts of first-degree murder on Feb. 13, 2019. The “Virtual (Blue Balenciagas)” rapper is accused of shooting and killing his friends YNW Juvy (Chris Thomas, 20) and YNW Sakchaser (Anthony Williams, 21) in an incident that occurred on Oct. 26, 2018.
Melly, born Jamell Demons, is accused of shooting Thomas and Williams in the back seat of a car the men were driven around in by YNW Bortlen (Cortlen Henry). Bortlen is then said to have driven the car with the dead bodies in it to Memorial Hospital in Miramar, Fla. Where he told authorities the men were victims of a drive-by shooting.
