YNW Melly’s lawyers slam bond denial ahead of double murder retrial
The legal team behind YNW Melly have reacted to the Florida rapper being denied bond.
Melly (real name Jamell Demons) was denied bond on May 6th ahead of his double murder trial, in which he’s accused of killing his childhood friends, YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, a Broward County judge shut down his request despite his lawyers claiming he would have 24-hour security and family support.
His attorneys, Drew Findling and Carey Haughwout, later took to Instagram to share a statement on behalf of Melly.
“The Court, the State Attorney’s Office, and all who observed this bond hearing should have been deeply troubled by the clear evidence presented regarding the inhumane conditions Mr Demons has endured for over seven years (with the last three in solitary confinement) while presumed innocent under our Constitution,” their message wrote.
It continued, “Yet the Court denied bond and allowed those conditions to continue without even acknowledging the shocking circumstances under which he has been forced to live. Mr Demons remains an innocent man in the eyes of the law. The State failed to secure a conviction once, and we remain confident it will fail again.”
Findling and Haughwout pointed to Melly’s upcoming January 2027 retrial as the only way for him to be released from custody.
They concluded, “Unfortunately, it now appears that only a jury’s verdict compelling his release will bring an end to the years of unnecessary and unjust punishment he has already suffered.”
Melly is facing a potential death penalty or life sentence for the shooting that took place in October 2018. He has pleaded not guilty, with the first trial ending in a mistrial.