Howard mentioned the prosecution has gone to “nice lengths” to remind jurors that the state shouldn’t be required to show motive.

“However have you learnt what does require motive? A younger man to get up at some point and determine that he’ll kill two of his greatest mates, greatest mates that he grew up with, greatest mates that he hangs out with, greatest mates who he lives with, greatest mates whose careers he was attempting to launch alongside his personal,” Howard mentioned.

“After 4 years of investigation, the state comes and says, ‘Hey, he killed two of his greatest mates.’ And also you’re questioning why, and their reply is, ‘Uh, I dunno.’ That is the primary indication that they are simply guessing and do not know what they’re speaking about,” the protection legal professional argued.

Prosecutor Kristine Bradley informed the jury that the narrative offered by YNW Melly’s affiliate, co-defendant Cortlen Henry — claiming the 2 victims have been killed in a drive-by capturing by a third-party attacker — doesn’t add up.

Bradley mentioned police scrubbed a mile-long stretch of Miramar Parkway, the place the drive-by is alleged to have occurred, and located no proof to corroborate the claims. 

“The detectives from Miramar… shut down all the size of Miramar Parkway from one hundred and sixtieth to 172nd. They stroll side-by-side for an hour, that mile-long stretch, in search of proof of this drive-by… On this case, the dearth of proof is essential. There’s a lack of any proof in any respect to assist {that a} drive-by occurred on Miramar Parkway,” Bradley argued, noting officers additionally searched the world from 172nd to 184th Avenue.

The unique story follows beneath.
The capital homicide trial of rapper YNW Melly, accused of killing two members of his rap crew in 2018, is underway in Broward County.

Born Jamell Demons, the Broward hip-hop artist faces two counts of first-degree homicide within the October 2018 capturing deaths of aspiring rappers Anthony Williams (YNW Sakchaser) and Christopher Thomas Jr. (YNW Juvy).

Police declare Demons opened fireplace on Williams and Thomas inside a grey Jeep Compass in Miramar and that an confederate, Cortlen Henry, then drove the 2 dying males to the emergency room. Although Demons and Henry claimed the victims have been killed in a drive-by capturing, prosecutors say the forensic proof confirmed the story was fabricated.

With jury choice for the case wrapped up after a months-long delay, Demons’ trial started the morning of June 12 in Broward County court docket.

Demons, who has collaborated with rappers Kanye West and Kodak Black, is maybe greatest identified for his breakout hit, “Homicide on My Thoughts,” which rapidly took on a brand new significance following the slayings.

Demons turned himself into Miramar police and was arrested on capital homicide prices in February 2019. On the time, he dismissed the fees in an Instagram submit as “rumors and lies,” earlier than emphasizing his love for his two slain mates.

“I need you guys to know I really like you and recognize each single one in all y’all. A pair months in the past I misplaced my two brothers by violence and now the system need to discover justice… Sadly loads of rumors and lies are being mentioned, however no worries god is with me and my brother @ynw.bortlen, and we would like y’all to recollect it is a YNW Household. I really like you @ynwsakchaser1 and @ynwjuvy #freeus.”

Jailed in Broward pending his trial, Demons has remained incarcerated since his arrest regardless of his attorneys’ efforts to get him launched on the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As beforehand reported by New Occasions, the Fourth District Courtroom of Enchantment dominated final November that Broward County prosecutors might search the dying penalty of their double-murder case towards Demons.

In early June, Broward Circuit Choose John Murphy granted prosecutors’ movement to observe a brand new Florida regulation below which a suggestion for the dying penalty requires solely eight votes from the twelve-member jury moderately than the unanimous vote beforehand required. To no avail, Demons had argued that it could be unfair to use the brand new regulation to him in the midst of his case.

Hailing from the Treasure Coast, Demons moved to Broward County to bolster his budding rap profession. He joined a rising wave of up-and-coming South Florida SoundCloud rappers, which included Kodak Black and the late XXXTentacion.

Demons spent a lot of his younger life out and in of jail — by 16, he was jailed after allegedly firing a gun close to a number of folks exterior of Vero Seaside Excessive Faculty. He then started releasing rap songs from jail, together with “Melly the Menace” and “Slang That Iron.”

“Homicide on My Thoughts,” a chart-topping track Demons wrote as an adolescent after the alleged capturing in Vero Seaside, was uploaded on SoundCloud in 2017 and launched as a single by the 300 Leisure file label in June 2018, 4 months earlier than the Miramar killings.