Judge declares a mistrial in Rapper YNW Melly's double murder case

23 July 2023 , 15:24

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The judge declared a mistrial (Image: AP)

A mistrial was declared on Saturday in rapper YNW Melly's double murder case. The decision was made after the jury failed to reach a decision.

Melly was on trial in Fort Lauderdale, Florida over the 2018 shooting deaths of two of his friends, which the prosecution had alleged was gang-related.

The Broward State Attorney's Office had filed a notice in 2019, sharing their intent to seek the death penalty in the case.

The rapper - who was born Jamell Demons - was alleged to have killed YNW Juvy, real name Christopher Thomas Jr., and YNW Sakchaser, aka Anthony Williams, with Cortlen Henry, who is known as YNW Bortlen.

YNW Melly was accused of shooting two of his friends (AP)

Melly's lawyer claimed the rapper had no apparent motive to shoot Thomas and Williams and they said that the gun in the shooting was never recovered.

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Earlier this month, it was confirmed Demons would be the first person tried under a new law which makes it easier for a jury to make the fatal decision as to whether a defendant will face the death penalty.

Rather than securing a unanimous vote, the jury instead only has to rule 8-4 in favour of ending a person's life.

But after three days of deliberation in Melly's case, judges couldn't come to a decision over the rapper's two first-degree murder charges.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict (Getty Images)

"We are still unable to reach a unanimous decision." the jury wrote to Judge John Murphy.

Murphy then declared a mistrial as the jury confirmed it had hit a point of deadlock.

During the second day of deliberations, the Miami Herald reported that the jury asked the judge what the options were if they couldn't come to a decision.

Judge Murphy then brought the jury back into the courtroom and read them the Allen charge, which is a set of instructions given to a jury that believe it’s deadlocked.

Upon learning of the mistrial verdict, Melly's family reportedly left the courtroom and did not want to comment on the case.

CBS Miami reported it is likely prosecutors will seek to retry the case with a new jury.

Chloe Stewart