YNW Melly’s double murder trial is underway, and those looking to see what’s happening inside the courtroom can do so from the comfort of their home.
The YouTube channel of the Law & Crime Network is streaming the trial where the Florida-based rapper is facing a double-murder charge. The third day of trial has officially begun with more witnesses taking the stand.
In February 2019, YNW Melly was arrested and charged with murdering two of his friends — Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams — and staging the scene to look like a drive-by shooting. If found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, Melly may face the death penalty. He pleaded not guilty in 2019.
YNW Melly took to his Instagram on the second day of the trial with a post highlighting the case and asking for fans to tune in and pray for him.
"Go watch and support me during trial [green heart emoji] send a prayer for me [prayer hands emoji, globe emoji] Day 2 @lawandcrime," Melly wrote.
According to Law & Crime, the second day of the trial saw several pieces of evidence come into play, including the items that were left in the car and video footage of the four men leaving the studio prior to the shooting. Boosie Badazz showed up in the courtroom in support of YNW Melly, which the victims’ families weren't happy with.
The 24-year-old appeared in a Florida court on Monday, where opening arguments kicked off the first day of his trial. Prosecutors presented their case stating YNW Melly shot and killed Thomas Jr. and Williams in October 2018 and cited surveillance evidence that proved the rapper and his co-defendant Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry were with the two men in Henry’s vehicle at the time he said the shooting transpired.
Prosecutors also stated phone data, blood residue, and bullet shell casings inside the car revealed the four men were all together the night of the shooting and that the victims were killed from inside the vehicle.
YNW Melly’s attorney, David Howard, questioned the prosecution’s lack of motive for the rapper to kill his friends. According to Howard, the prosecution’s investigation was “incompetent and incomplete.”
“After four years of investigation, the state comes and says, ‘Hey, he killed two of his best friends.’ And you’re wondering why, and their answer is, ‘Uh, I dunno.’ That’s the first indication that they’re just guessing and don’t know what they’re talking about,” Howard argued in court, per Miami New Times.
Prosecutor Kristine Bradley told the jury that there was a “lack of evidence” to prove Melly’s claim by way of his attorneys that a drive-by shooting led to the deaths of the aspiring rappers.
“The detectives from Miramar … shut down the entire length of Miramar Parkway from 160th to 172nd. They walk side-by-side for an hour, that mile-long stretch, looking for evidence of this drive-by … In this case, the lack of evidence is very important,” Bradley said, according to Miami New Times. “There is a lack of any evidence whatsoever to support that a drive-by happened on Miramar Parkway.”
For more court updates, head to Law & Crime Network's YouTube channel as this story develops.
