Jury selection for YNW Melly’s upcoming double-murder retrial will be livestreamed after a Florida judge raised concerns about improper interactions between potential jurors and the public during the rapper’s first trial.
Broward County Judge Martin S. Fein issued new security restrictions on Oct. 13, barring the general public from the courtroom during jury selection, according to documents XXL obtained on Thursday. Spectators will be able to watch the proceedings via livestream from a separate courtroom.
Fein cited “numerous incidents of inappropriate contact and inappropriate communication and attempted communication between the prospective jurors and numerous members of the public” during the previous trial.
The judge also ordered 500 prospective jurors to be summoned, with screenings conducted in groups of 50 before the pool is narrowed to 60 eligible candidates.
Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, is charged with murdering his friends and fellow rappers Anthony Williams, 21, and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19, in October 2018. Prosecutors allege he shot both men inside a vehicle before attempting to make their deaths appear to be the result of a drive-by shooting.
He has pleaded not guilty.
His first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2023 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Meanwhile, Melly’s attorneys are seeking to suppress digital evidence obtained through search warrants issued through March 2024, alleging investigators relied on misleading information.
His retrial is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2027, with another court appearance set for Oct. 27.
