In the never ending saga of YNW Melly’s murder retrial, his legal team is seeking to delay the rapper’s high-profile double murder retrial until 2026, arguing that his current physical and mental condition makes it nearly impossible for him to stand trial.
That part.
Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, has been locked up since early 2019, facing charges for the 2018 killings of his two close friends and fellow YNW members Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. His initial trial in 2023 ended without a verdict when the jury could not agree on a decision.
That’s an ICYMI if there ever was one.
Get this, now his attorneys are urging the court to push back proceedings another year, pointing to the toll that six years in pretrial detention have taken on him. They claim that the extended isolation and restrictive conditions have created a situation even more severe than what many death row inmates endure, and that Melly is not in a fit state to fully participate in his own defense.
Despite the defense’s bold argument, Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein recently denied a separate request to release Melly on bond. That decision followed an Arthur hearing where both sides presented evidence and testimony. After reviewing the case record, Judge Fein concluded that the prosecution’s case against Melly remains strong.
“This Court finds that the State’s evidence is arguably sufficient to convict and is not contradicted in a material respect such that there is a substantial question of fact as to the guilt or innocence of the Defendant,” Judge Fein wrote.
Melly’s attorneys even tried to propose a strict form of house arrest as an alternative, including electronic monitoring and full-time security at his home. They insisted he posed no flight risk, noting that he does not hold a passport.
But prosecutors weren’t for it. They countered that the severity of the double homicide charges along with accusations of witness tampering made any release too risky.
The retrial has already encountered numerous delays due to legal challenges and arguments over admissible evidence. The court has not yet issued a decision on whether the request to delay until 2026 will be granted. If approved, the trial would be pushed back another year, further lengthening what has already been a prolonged pretrial detention for the Florida rapper.
Welp, see ya’ll in 2026 with this story but we’re bound to have updates between now and then.