YNW Melly murder retrial update: Rapper's ex-lawyer calls out Florida prosecutors for mishandling his client's case

Rapper YNW Melly was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in February 2019, pertaining to the murder of two of his friends. He allegedly staged the crime scene to appear like a drive-by shooting. While the proceedings were declared a mistrial in June 2023, the rapper was set to be retried.

Melly still awaits a retrial, however, the rapper's former attorney Bradford Cohen took to Instagram on July 3, 2024, stating he has "never seen anything like it". In the Instagram post sharing an order from the District Court of Appeal, Cohen mentioned that the "Broward State Attorneys Office really screwed" the case up. He also stated:

"A real circus over this case and mishandled from the 1st day when I was in the case."

The rapper's former attorney also mentioned that it was "unbelievable" that Florida prosecutors, which were the Broward State Attorneys office in this case, would mishandle such an important double murder case because of ego.

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"Bad investigation and even a worse trial" - YNW Melly's ex-attorney comments on Florida prosecutors mishandling the rapper's case

YNW Melly's trial, which began on June 2023, was declared a mistrial by Judge John J. Murphy III after the jury underwent an apparent deadlock for three days in July 2023.

Moreover, the rapper's mistrial underwent multiple pushbacks for several reasons, including Melly changing his attorney and the imposition of additional witness tampering charges.

The jury selection in Melly's case began in October 2023. However, the proceedings were put on hold indefinitely by reason of motions and appeals being sorted out before jury selection was resumed.

In the recent Instagram post by YNW Melly's former attorney Bradford Cohen, he mentioned that he refused to pass the rapper's case to an "unconflicted state attorneys office" after the prosecution listed one of its own state attorneys Kristine Bradley as a witness.

However, Broward Circuit Court Judge John Murphy ousted the state attorney as a witness given that she was involved in a 2022 case linked to allegations of Kristine's wrongdoings by Miramar Police Detective Mark Moretti.

Moreover, the lower court also ruled that the Florida prosecutors cannot cross-examine one of their own attorneys. Explaining the consequences of the same, Bradford Cohen mentioned:

"That means if they stay in the case, there will be no cross-examination of the State Attorney testified that the lead detective lied about the service of a subpoena. The appellate court just agreed with the lower court."

Additionally, Cohen also commented on how YNW Melly's case was mishandled from the start, stating:

"Bad investigation and even a worse trial."

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If YNW Melly is convicted in the double murder case, he faces the possibility of life in prison without the option of parole or the death penalty.

In other news, Kendrick Lamar mentioned the rapper in his Drake diss track Euphoria, with the lyrics stating:

“Yeah, Cole and Aubrey know I’m selfish, the crown is heavy/ I pray they my real friends but if not, I’m YNW Melly."

Commenting on the mention, the rapper told TMZ that Lamar was one of his favourite rappers and that he feels "honored and appalled". The rapper also mentioned that he was a household name but for the wrong things.