YNW Melly’s lyrics could be used against him in his retrial for double murder.
Melly (real name is Jamell Demons) is currently set to go on trial again next year for a double murder he is accused of committing more than five years ago.
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The 24-year-old rapper went through a mistrial last summer on the same charges after the jury failed to come to a unanimous verdict.
According to The Guardian, prosecutors in Florida are now planning on using Melly’s lyrics as part of the trial, with the rapper potentially facing the death penalty if convicted.
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Melly is accused of killing two fellow members of the YNW collective, Christopher “Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “Sakchaser” Williams, in October 2018, shortly after he shot to fame with his single “Murder on My Mind.”
Prosecutor Alixandra Buckelew said she planned to include 55 songs for evidence plus four album covers and 18 audio files, all evidence which the original trial prosecutor declined to use.
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Melly’s attorney Raven Liberty has attempted to block the rapper’s lyrics being used as evidence in his retrial.
“To receive something this late in the game is just part and parcel of what they’ve been doing the entire time,” Liberty said, adding that the state attorney’s office had given Demons’ defense team an assurance three years ago that lyrics would not be used against him.
This is the latest controversial example of rap lyrics potentially being used as evidence in court.
Last month, a judge in Atlanta ruled that Young Thug’s lyrics could be used in the RICO trial against him and his YSL collective.
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A number of artists have spoken out about lyrics being used as evidence in court, including JAY-Z and Meek Mill who both put their support behind a change in New York law which would prevent song lyrics being used as evidence.
After the ruling in Thug’s case, Killer Mike said the judge’s decision “scared” him and urged his followers to read the book Rap On Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America.
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Lyrics have previously been used in criminal trials against rappers such as Snoop Dogg, Boosie Badazz, Mac Phipps, 6ix9ine and Drakeo The Ruler.
