YNW Melly canceled his request for a speedy trial today, as his lawyers decided to push the start of the trial back a month to ensure that both sides are ready to proceed.
In court documents viewed by Complex, Judge Andrew L. Siegel determined on Wednesday that jury selection will start on April 4. The actual trial is tentatively scheduled to start one month after that on May 23. The ruling was handed down at a hearing that took place at Broward County Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Back in January, Melly, who’s awaiting trial after being charged with two counts of murder back in 2019, wrote to the judge requesting that a trial begin within 50 days. His request was granted, with the judge setting a trial date for March 7.
Melly’s legal team ultimately decided to push the trial back due to things like incomplete witness depositions, as the state is still trying to locate potential witnesses, including Melly’s ex-girlfriend Mariah Hamilton and her mother.
The news arrives less than a month after prosecutors requested that photographs of Melly be taken to “document the gang-affiliated tattoos” of the rapper.
In March 2019, Melly reportedly plead not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the killings of Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams. In other news, Melly’s lawyers issued a statement pushing back against prosecutors’ claims that the rapper confessed to the crimes in a video.
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