The long-running legal battle surrounding rapper YNW Melly has taken yet another turn. A Florida appeals court has officially pushed back his highly anticipated retrial to January 2027, extending a case that has already dragged on for years.
On Friday, the 4th District Court of Appeals granted a stay while it reviews a motion filed by the state attorney’s office. This ruling means the trial, which was previously expected to begin in September, will not move forward as planned.
Melly, born Jamell Demons, was first arrested in 2019 and charged in connection with the October 2018 shooting deaths of his close friends and fellow artists, Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams.
Prosecutors allege Melly staged the killings to look like a drive-by.
His first trial in 2023 ended in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.
That deadlock left Melly’s fate unresolved, forcing the state to prepare for a retrial. If convicted in the upcoming proceedings, he could face the death penalty.
The delay now stretches the timeline even further, with Melly remaining behind bars while the legal system sorts through the appeals process. For supporters and critics alike, the extended wait only adds to the controversy and spotlight surrounding one of hip hop’s most closely watched cases.