YNW Melly faced more delays in his murder retrial. The 24-year-old rapper learned jury selection would not restart until March at a court hearing in Florida on Friday (January 12).
According to ABC and NBC affiliates in Miami, Judge John Murphy did not schedule a new start date for the retrial. The judge was previously forced to reschedule the trial as prosecutors and defense attorneys battled over multiple motions in the double murder case.
At one point, YNW Melly’s trial was supposed to begin on January 8. Judge Murphy delayed it to February 5 as the court sorted out multiple motions in the case. Now, opening statements will start in March at the earliest.
YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, remains in jail without bond following a mistrial in 2023. His first murder trial ended with a hung jury.
Prosecutors accuse YNW Melly of killing his friends YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser in 2018. Alleged accomplice YNW Bortlen also awaits trial for his role in the murders.
YNW Melly’s lawyers convinced Judge Murphy to remove former lead prosecutor Kristine Bradley from the double murder case ahead of the retrial. Alixandra Buckelew replaced Bradley in October 2023.
Jury selection for the retrial began the same month, but it was disrupted by a defense error. Judge Murphy granted the defense’s motion to strike the entire panel of prospective jurors, forcing the process to start from scratch. Prosecutors voiced their frustrations.
“All of this time being spent on jurors that have now been struck could have gone to time both sides clearly need to further prepare for the trial,” the prosecution argued in a motion. “The state does not want this to become a pattern where with each objection made, another group of jurors is struck.”
YNW Melly pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.