Rapper YNW Melly's Murder Trial Ends in a Mistrial, Mother Stands by Non-Guilty Verdict
Rising Florida rapper YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, faced the possibility of the death penalty for the brutal murders of his two friends in 2018. But after 19 days of testimony from over 60 witnesses, his highly publicized murder trial suddenly ended in a mistrial last weekend.
Prosecutors accused the 23-year-old rapper of killing Anthony Williams, 21, and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19 on October 26, 2018 in Miramar, Florida. They alleged that Demons and his friend, Cortlen Henry, shot and killed Williams and Thomas while they sat in the backseat of Demons' vehicle. Demons and Henry then drove the victims' bodies to a nearby hospital while pretending they were victims of a drive-by shooting.
Demons' trial began on May 16th in Fort Lauderdale. Over the next three weeks, prosecutors presented evidence such as cell phone records, social media posts, and testimony from witnesses who claimed Demons had a pattern of jealousy, paranoia and violent outbursts. However, Demons' defense team argued there was no real evidence linking their client to the crimes, instead painting Henry as the sole shooter who acted alone.
The jury began deliberating on July 18th but soon announced they were "hopelessly deadlocked," unable to reach a unanimous verdict. On July 22nd, Judge John L. Murphy dismissed the jury and declared a mistrial. The decision came after jurors sent the judge a note saying there was "no possibility of coming to a unanimous decision."
Demons will remain in custody pending a retrial, as the mistrial did not exonerate him. Legal experts predict prosecutors will likely seek to retry Demons given the serious charges he faces.
Following the mistrial announcement, Demons' mother Claudia Demons took to Instagram, claiming that a majority of jurors had voted to find her son "not guilty." She wrote "Most of the jurors had already finding Jamell NOT GUILTY but few jurors refused to apply the law & change there [sic] verdict."
However, legal experts say there is no way to verify Claudia Demons' claims. The jury's deliberations and any interim ballots or votes are kept strictly confidential. The judge only knows the final result - in this case, that the jury was hopelessly deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Demons faces life in prison if convicted on the current first-degree murder charges. However, prosecutors could potentially seek the death penalty under Florida's recently expanded capital punishment laws. Prosecutors have not yet announced if they will pursue the death penalty in a potential retrial.
Demons' defense team and prosecutors will meet on July 28th to discuss next steps. For now, Demons' future rests in the hands of another jury who would hear an eventual retrial.
The abrupt end to Demons' first trial means that - for now - the inconclusive outcome leaves his controversial case unresolved. Despite releasing two successful studio albums, the rising rapper remains behind bars awaiting a potential second attempt at justice for the brutal murders of his two friends.
