Since 2019, YNW Melly has been behind bars, facing two counts of first-degree murder in a case that has captivated much of the hip-hop world. This week, his uphill legal fight grew steeper when a federal judge threw out his attempt to challenge the conditions of his confinement, another setback as he awaits retrial.
On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Melissa Damian dismissed Melly’s habeas corpus petition, ruling that he must first exhaust all remedies in state court before turning to the federal system. The ruling was issued “without prejudice,” leaving the door open for him to refile at a later date.
In his 12-page complaint, filed in November 2024, Melly described what he called “shocking” treatment inside Broward County Jail. He said he had endured extended periods of solitary confinement and severe limits on communicating with his attorneys—conditions he likened to prisons in countries with few human rights protections.
Trial Delayed Again
The dismissal comes as Melly’s retrial, already years in the making, faces yet another delay. A Broward County judge recently moved the start date from September 2026 to January 2027, citing scheduling conflicts and the case’s complexity. His first trial, in 2023, ended in a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Until the new date arrives, Melly remains in county custody.
Through it all, his family has been outspoken in their support. His mother, Jamie Demons-King, shared a message alongside a courtroom photo: “Never missed a court date. We stand behind you 100% @ynwmelly. I love you, and God has you covered.”
Melly rose to prominence with his 2018 single Murder on My Mind, a track that established him as a breakout voice in rap but has since become inextricably linked to the charges he faces. With his retrial still more than a year away, his future — both in music and in life—remains uncertain, shaped less by the charts than by the courtroom battles ahead.
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