Rapper YNW Melly’s trial for double murder was declared a mistrial as Florida jury deadlocked

The double murder trial of rapper YNW Melly ended with a deadlocked jury and a Florida judge declared a mistrial in the case involving the shooting deaths of two of the musician’s friends.

YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, has been in a Florida court for the past three weeks facing murder charges in the 2018 deaths of Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas.

The two men, who were also rappers, were shot to death in October 2018 in Miramar, Florida.

On Saturday, Broward County Circuit Judge John Murphy declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case.

Prosecutors are expected to retry the case with a new jury.

YNW Melly faced the death penalty in the case.

A three-week trial ended Thursday and jury deliberations began. On Friday, the panel told Murphy that they could not reach a decision. However, they were told to keep talking.

On Saturday, when they still couldn’t reach a verdict, the judge declared a mistrial.

Cortlen Henry is a co-defendant in the case and is being tried separately.

Investigators said that in 2018, Williams and Thomas, both rappers, were shot to death.

Police say YNW Melly and Henry conspired to make it appear they were killed in a drive-by shooting after a recording session, according to Rolling Stone.

After the two musicians were shot to death, their bodies were taken to the Everglades, where prosecutors say YNW Melly and Henry shot at their Jeep to make it look like a moving vehicle.

Prosecutors said the murder was part of a “gang action.” But defense prosecutors dismissed that argument, saying the two victims were friends of YNW Melly.