In a surprising twist, YNW Melly’s trial has been hit with shocking allegations of jury manipulation as the rapper gears up for another trial on October 2.
A former juror from YNW Melly’s murder trial has come forward, choosing to remain anonymous, and has revealed that the jury was allegedly manipulated into declaring a mistrial.
According to this juror, most of the jury wanted to find the Florida rapper, whose real name is Jamell Demons, guilty of the 2018 murders of his fellow YNW Collective rappers, Christopher “Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “Sakchaser” Williams.
The juror points to one woman in the jury who seemed determined to acquit Demons, and this apparently caused a lot of problems.
“She had issues with the chosen foreperson right from the start. She crossed her arms and said she was ‘Done!’ When another juror asked her to consider other viewpoints, she exploded. She was rude and said mean things to anyone who disagreed with her,” the former juror explained.
Related: Rapper YNW Melly Double Murder Trial Declared A Mistrial
The mistrial was declared on July 22 by Broward County Circuit Judge John J. Murphy, which surprised many given the strong evidence presented during the trial.
The juror’s claims suggest that the jury room was chaotic, with the woman allegedly convincing two other jurors to change their minds on the last day of deliberations. When questioned about this, she reportedly became angry and insulted the juror who asked her about it.
The former juror decided to speak out because of reports that Demons’s mother said the jury was deadlocked at 9-3 in favor of acquittal. However, the former juror disagrees and insists that nine jurors actually believed Demons was guilty.
YNW Melly gained fame with his song “Murder On My Mind” but was arrested alongside YNW Bortlen in February 2019. He pleaded not guilty to two charges of first-degree murder and was facing the death penalty.
Despite the mistrial, the case is not over yet. Demons’s defense team and prosecutors have agreed to start jury selection for the second trial on October 2. The courtroom drama continues, with the serious allegation of jury manipulation adding to the tension.
