The trial of Jamell “YNW Melly” Demons ended Saturday afternoon with a hung jury after more than 14 hours of deliberation over three days.
Jurors told Broward Circuit judge John J. Murphy they could not reach a unanimous decision even after they were instructed Friday to do everything they could to resolve their disagreements. They wrestled with their decision for more than five hours after telling the judge Friday they were deadlocked.
Demons, 24, will remain in custody as attorneys on both sides prepare for a retrial in 90 days with a new jury. Prosecutors will be able to reconsider their trial strategy, including whether to continue seeking the death penalty against the popular rapper.
Closing arguments were held on Thursday. On Friday jurors asked for some testimony to be read back, then told the judge they were deadlocked. The judge read a routine instruction called the “Allen charge,” directing jurors to try harder, consider each other’s arguments and attempt to reach a unanimous agreement.
After that, they continued for more than five hours Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. The jurors didn’t send any messages to the court until early Saturday afternoon, when they asked to see a damaged cell phone that belonged to victim Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas.
Thomas and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams were shot to death inside a Jeep driven by their friend, Cortland “YNW Bortlen” Henry. Prosecutors say Demons was seated behind Henry after an overnight recording session in Fort Lauderdale early on Oct. 26, 2018.
The four young men were part of a collective of rap artists, and longtime friends. Prosecutors believe Demons tangled with the victims about money and creative credit, and that Demons was part of an offshoot of the Bloods street gang.
Defense lawyers say that’s not nearly enough to explain why Demons would, with no apparent provocation, fire a gun at Williams and Thomas, killing them.
Still, prosecutors say, all the evidence points to Demons as the shooter. He was seen on surveillance footage getting into the seat where forensic experts say the gunman sat. He told investigators that the victims died in a drive-by, even though the bullets that killed them came from inside the car.
While prosecutors do not need to prove motive to secure a guilty verdict, it could factor into whether the jury can legally recommend a death sentence. The prosecution asked the jury to find that the murders were committed in connection with gang activity, which can be used as an aggravating factor that permits a death sentence.
Jurors would have to unanimously find the aggravating factor proven beyond a reasonable doubt to recommend death.
Demons and Henry were accused of stopping the car in an isolated area off US 27 and firing into the vehicle from outside to stage the drive-by. Henry then drove the victims, alone, to Memorial Hospital in Miramar, where they were officially pronounced dead.
But prosecutors say the drive-by was staged when the victims were already dead.
Henry, who has been charged as a principal and accessory to the murders, is due to be tried separately. It is not known whether his trial will be pushed back to make room for a retrial of Demons.
This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
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