YNW Melly Fate In Jury Hands After Intense Closing Arguments

The prosecution and defense wrapped their closing arguments on Thursday in the YNW Melly trial and have set off for deliberations.

Before closing arguments began, Judge John J. Murphy III issued directions to the jury to decide if YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, had committed first-degree murder, manslaughter, or justifiable homicide (self-defense). Melly is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his friends, YNW Anthony ‘Juvy’ Williams and Christopher ‘Sakchaser’ Thomas.

While reading out lengthy directions to the jury, Judge Murphy explained the considerations for first-degree murder or lesser committed crime by the jury. The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the victims are dead, that the deaths were caused by the criminal actions of Jamell Demons, and that there was a premeditated killing of the victims; premeditated acts means “a series of related actions arising from and performed for a single desire or purpose.”

“The decision must be present at the time of the killing. The law does not fix the exact period of time that must pass between the formation of the premeditated intent to kill and the killing. The period of time must be long enough for reflection by the defendant,” the judge read to the jury, who are directed that the question of premeditation is a question of fact to be determined by them from the evidence.

The jury began deliberations mid-afternoon on Thursday and is going to be staying over at a hotel to continue deliberations on today. It’s likely a verdict may or may not come on Friday given the large swathe of evidence presented by the prosecution and the fact that Melly is facing the death penalty, which means that the Death Qualified jury will need to take care at arriving at a verdict.