YNW Melly's double murder retrial delayed until 2027 after multiple postponements

YNW Melly’s retrial in his double murder case has been postponed once again, this time until January 2027, according to a report from NBC 6.

The Florida rapper, born Jamell Demons, has been in custody since 2019 following his arrest on charges related to the 2018 shooting deaths of two of his close friends and fellow YNW collective members, YNW Juvy (Christopher Thomas Jr.) and YNW Sakchaser (Anthony Williams).

The initial trial began in June 2023 but ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Since then, the retrial has faced several scheduling setbacks. A new trial date had previously been set for September 2025, but the court has now pushed the proceedings further, extending Melly’s time behind bars well into a seventh year.

The latest delay comes shortly after a pre-trial hearing in July, during which Judge Martin S. Fein ordered the release of documents connected to Melly’s attorney, Raven Liberty. Liberty has reportedly been under investigation for 18 months for alleged witness tampering, though no formal charges have been filed against her at this time.

Additionally, in November 2024, Melly’s legal team filed a lawsuit against the Broward County Sheriff's Office, alleging that he was being held in inhumane conditions. The claims included extended periods of solitary confinement and limited access to visits or communication. The Sheriff's Office responded by clarifying that Melly is in “administrative segregation,” not solitary confinement, citing safety concerns as the reason for the housing decision.

Melly’s request for pre-trial release was denied by a judge in May 2025, ensuring that he will remain in custody until his retrial begins in 2027, unless future legal developments alter his detention status.