Murder Trial of Rapper YNW Melly Ends in Mistrial After Jury Deadlocks; Retrial Likely

Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, at the defense table as a question from the jury is read by the judge in his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 21, 2023. Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—A deadlocked jury prompted a mistrial Saturday in the South Florida trial of rapper YNW Melly on charges that he murdered two of his friends five years ago.

The 12-member panel could not reach a unanimous verdict after three days of deliberations. Broward County prosecutors, who had been seeking the death penalty, will likely choose to retry the case with a new jury. A unanimous verdict is required to convict or acquit a defendant.