Judge Makes It Easier For YNW Melly To Get The Death Penalty AllowingA Rare 8 – 4 Vote From Jurors If He’s Found Guilty in his Double Homicide Case

Judge Makes It Easier For YNW Melly To Get The Death Penalty Allowing

A Rare 8 – 4 Vote From Jurors If He’s Found Guilty in his Double Homicide Case.

Rapper YNW Melly’s murder trial is expected to start the week of June 20, but before the first juror has been picked, a judge on Friday lowered the threshold for a death sentence should he be convicted.

Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy granted the state prosecutors’ motion to follow a new law that allows juries to recommend a death sentence with an 8-4 vote instead of a unanimous vote.

The push to reduce Florida’s death penalty threshold was inspired by the convicted Parkland school shooter not getting the death penalty due to a split jury.

YNW Melly Has Been Awaiting Trial for Four Years

YNW Melly has been locked up in the Broward County Jail since his arrest on two counts of first-degree murder on Feb. 13, 2019. The “Virtual (Blue Balenciagas)” rapper is accused of shooting and killing his friends YNW Juvy (Chris Thomas, 20) and YNW Sakchaser (Anthony Williams, 21) in an incident that occurred on Oct. 26, 2018

When Does YNW Melly’s Murder Trial Start?

YNW Melly’s trial is expected to begin later this month. He will be one of the first people tried under the new rule, which was recently pushed through by Florida Governor Ron Disantis in the wake of Parkland High School shooter Nikolas Cruz only getting a life sentence due to a split 9-3 jury. A death penalty recommendation with only an 8-4 vote is the lowest threshold in the United States.

Melly, best known for hit song “Murder on My Mind,” was arrested on two counts of first-degree murder on Feb. 13, 2019. Since then, he has been in the Broward main jail, despite efforts to get released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 24-year-old’s death penalty case is among the first considered after the change. The 8-4 vote to recommend a death sentence is the lowest threshold in the country.