YNW Melly will be waiting even longer for resolution in his double murder case. The Florida rapper, jailed since early 2019, has had his retrial pushed to early 2027 following a ruling by the state’s 4th District Court of Appeals.
During a hearing on Friday (Aug. 8), the court decided the “Murder on My Mind” rapper’s trial would no longer begin next month as planned. Instead, proceedings will be delayed until January while the appeals court reviews a motion from the state attorney’s office regarding what evidence will be admissible in court.
Melly’s first trial ended in a mistrial in 2023. The state’s second attempt has faced multiple setbacks, including an investigation into one of Melly’s attorneys and disputes over evidence that triggered Friday’s delay.
Melly and fellow crew member YNW Bortlen are accused of killing Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams in October 2018. Bortlen drove both men to a Miramar, Florida hospital, claiming they had been victims of a drive-by shooting.
Months later, both men became suspects. Melly turned himself in that February and has been behind bars ever since. On top of the criminal charges, he’s also facing civil suits from the families of Sakchaser and Juvy.
For a deeper dive into Melly’s rise in rap and the case against him, check out Complex’s podcast Infamous: The Story of YNW Melly, hosted by Ace Hood.
