Jury YNW Melly to Judge Broward: “What if we can’t come to a decision?”
No verdict will be handed down Friday in the case of Florida rapper YNW Melly, who prosecutors charged with the murder of two of his fellow YNW Collective rappers more than four years ago in Miramar.
Broward District Judge John Murphy dismissed the jury on Friday afternoon, so deliberations can continue Saturday morning in the Broward County Courtroom in Fort Lauderdale.
During deliberations, the jury remains secluded, isolated from friends and family, and forced to spend their free time at a hotel under the care of Broward Sheriff’s Office.
“Everyone is stuck on the side they chose,” the jury chairman wrote on Friday afternoon, according to Murphy.
Prosecutors charged Jamel “Mellie” Demons with fatally shooting Christopher “Juvie” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “Succhaser” Williams in a compass jeep in which Cortland “Bortland” Henry, a co-defendant awaiting trial, was driving in the early hours of October 26, 2018, in Broward County.
If a jury finds the 24-year-old Demon guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, he could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. If the jury cannot reach a verdict, a new Demon trial must be scheduled with a new jury.
Henry reported that there was a drive-by shooting in Miramar, with Thomas and Williams being the victims. The prosecution accused the Demons of killing Thomas and Williams and covering up the murders with Henry’s help. The defense stated that the Demons had nothing to do with the shooting.
Security footage shows that Thomas, 19, and Williams, 21, were last seen alive when they got into a jeep compass with Demons and Henry at New Era Recording Studios at 805 NE 4 Ave. at approximately 3:20 a.m., and Henry showed up with both victims at around 4:35 a.m. at Miramar Memorial Hospital, 1701 SW 172 Ave., according to prosecutors and detectives.
The prosecution presented testimony from the detective and expert witnesses who disagreed with Henry’s report. Experts assessed the trajectory of the bullets and the characteristics of the wounds contradicted Henry’s report that they were the victims of a drive-by shooting on Miramar Boulevard.
The prosecution cited mobile phone data, which the defense felt had not been properly verified, as part of the body of evidence investigators used to charge Demons and Henry with staging a drive-by shooting in an abandoned area near the Pembroke Road cul-de-sac.
Demon was indicted by a grand jury on February 7, 2019, and on February 13, 2019, he surrendered to Broward Sheriff’s Office officials. Since then, deputies have held him without bail. Opening statements in court in his case were made on 12 June. There were 16 days of testimony, and closing arguments ended on Thursday.
Murphy asked jurors on Friday afternoon to give deliberations another chance to see if they can reach an agreement on a verdict. Nearly two hours later, the jurors demanded to view the CCTV footage that the prosecution showed during their testimony, claiming that it showed a moving Jeep Compass.
If their second attempt to negotiate a verdict failed, Murphy told the jury that he would have to declare a mistrial and fire them. Discussions are scheduled to continue at 9 am on Saturday.
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TRIAL TERMS
First week of trial: opening statements were June 12.
- Defense petitions for a mistrial, claiming it is a ‘biased fiasco’
- Millionaire Recording Executive Kevin Liles Takes a Front Row Seat
- The battle for circumstantial evidence begins during the 1st week.
Second week of trial: Prosecution witnesses continue to testify
- Judge denied defense motion for mistrial, juror hospitalized
- FBI mobile phone data expert, BSO DNA analyst testifies
- Judge authorizes prosecution for breach of evidence collection procedure
- The judge allowed the prosecution’s expert to testify in a mask
- Text messages show conflict, weapons request, prosecutor says
Third Week of Trial: Testimony Continues
- Prosecution Alleges G-Shine Bloods Linked to Murders
- Defense says gang signs don’t indicate gang affiliation
- Forensic experts testified to the presence of gunshot wounds
- YNW Melly Double Murder Testimony Enters Third Week
- Shooting reenactment expert says ‘Juvie’ was shot at close range
- A grieving mother testified in a video showing her son alive for the last time
- Rapper Fredo Bang released the song Free Melly
court in recess
- Defense blames YNW Bortlen
- Florida rapper’s Spotify listeners rise to 12 million
Fourth week of trial: testimony continues
- Prosecution presents last witnesses
- ‘Everyone will die’: the accusation plunges into belligerent messages
- Defense Asks Judge to Delete Messages, Questions Use of Technology
Fifth week of the trial: rest of the state and defense
- State rests for 15 days, defense demands mistrial
- Protection rests for 16 days
- Closing arguments end, jurors choose foreman, deliberations begin
