YNW Melly attended a pretrial hearing in Broward County on Tuesday as preparations continue for his upcoming retrial in a high-profile double murder case.
The artist, legally named Jamell Demons, faces charges for the 2018 fatal shootings of Christopher Thomas Jr. and Anthony Williams, both fellow members of the YNW Collective.
Judge Martin Fein reviewed multiple legal motions with prosecutors and defense attorneys during the hearing. One key discussion involved the prosecution’s obligation to share certain case materials with the defense team, which the judge ordered to be completed within the coming weeks.
Demons’ first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2023 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. While awaiting his retrial, the rapper has remained in custody but continues to seek bond release. A separate hearing to address his bond request has been scheduled for May 6.
Authorities arrested YNW Melly in Feb. 2019, alleging he conspired with YNW Bortlen to kill the two victims and stage the scene as a drive-by shooting. Throughout the initial trial, Demons maintained his innocence.
The retrial is set to begin on September 10. If convicted, the rapper could potentially face the death penalty. Legal proceedings will continue next month as the court examines the possibility of a bond ahead of the Sept. trial date.