After 19 days of hearing arguments, Judge John Murphy declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on the double murder charges of YNW Melly.
Jamell Demons, whose stage name is YNW Melly, faces two first-degree murder charges in the October 26, 2018 killings of 21-year-old Anthony Williams and 19-year-old Christopher Thomas in Miramar.
Closing arguments wrapped up Thursday and the case was handed over to a Broward jury, who spent two full days deliberating on the outcome of the case. The trial began last month.
The jury did ask the state and the judge if they could redact some of the evidence but after several hours and a lunch break, the jury could not reach a decision, forcing the judge to order a mistrial.
Demons, who is now 24 years old, has pleaded not guilty and faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
Demons, Williams and Thomas were riding in a Jeep driven by Cortland Henry, known as YNW Bortlen, after a recording session in Fort Lauderdale when Demons shot Williams and Thomas, prosecutors said. Henry was charged as an accomplice in the case but will be tried separately.
Authorities said Demons and Henry staged a crime scene similar to a drive-by shooting.
Prosecutors said the shooting was part of gang action, while defense attorneys said the motive lacked credibility because the Demons and the victims were close friends.
The defense insisted Demons was asleep in the house at the time of the murders, and claimed Henry was responsible.
Thomas is known by the stage name YNW Juvy while Williams is known as YNW Sakchaser. They are childhood friends of the Demons and part of the YNW collective.
