YNW Melly is a 24 year old rapper from Gifford, Florida. Before his career took off, he was arrested and charged for murdering two of his friends, YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy in 2018.

According to reports, the trial over the murders is finally pushing through after four years, and numerous attempts of getting the death penalty off the table.

The trial will commence on Jun 7, with a selection of jurors that will serve on the case, and they will have the difficult decision whether to sentence the rapper to death or not.

The death sentence in this case is quite monumental and controversial for several reasons: the death penalty is new in the state of Florida-it was just signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in April earlier this year.

Death Penalty

According to reports, the judge in this case has lowered the threshold for the death penalty; jurors now have the power to vote for or against a person's life.

The jurors would only need an 8-4 vote instead of a unanimous vote, making it the lowest threshold in the United States, which many find to be concerning and alarming.

Apparently, the new law came in the heels of another murder trial in October 2022. The infamous and tragic Parkland school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, managed to avoid a death sentence because of a split jury.

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YNW Melly

YNW Melly was born Jamell Maurice Demons. 

He first became prominent following the release of his songs "Murder on My Mind," "Suicidal" ,  "Mixed Personalities" featuring Kanye West; and "223's". 

He dropped "Melly vs. Melvin," his debut studio album in 2019, which allegedly references two of his personalities. The album peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200.

He has managed to release another album "Just a Matter of Slime" in 2021. It includes a star-studded tracklist of collaborators, including Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, Kodak Black, Young Thug, Lil Tjay, Lil Durk, and more.

Following the news of the trial, Melly's mother took to social media to denounce the charges against her son.

"[...] Even tho they tried to make it da worst, still you found a way to make it the BEST. I love you ma I'ma give you the world, Pluto and Mars when I get out. What u want da most too? Lol."

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