Recently, there has been much discussion about the current status of rapper YNW Melly, with some fans speculating whether he is under house arrest as his murder trial date approaches. Let’s fact-check the situation.
Is YNW Melly Out of Jail Prison?
As of now, YNW Melly is not under house arrest. His legal troubles began in February 2019 when he was arrested on charges of killing two of his friends. Since then, he has been incarcerated at Florida’s Broward County Jail. Currently, the jury selection for his trial is ongoing, and a preliminary trial date has been set for the week of June 20.
Trial Under New Florida Law
It’s essential to note that YNW Melly’s murder case will be one of the first to go to trial after a change in Florida law regarding the death penalty. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lowered the bar for imposing the death penalty. Unlike the previous statute, which required a unanimous jury verdict, the rapper could potentially receive the death penalty if four out of the twelve jury members vote in favor of it.
Support for Melly’s Release
Supporters of YNW Melly have been advocating for his release since his arrest in connection with the deaths of his associates. Many have taken to social media, urging Vice President Joe Biden to either release the rapper or place him under house arrest. The fact that YNW Melly’s co-defendant, YNW Bortlen, was granted house arrest in 2021 has further fueled the call for Melly’s release.
#FreeYNWMelly Trend
As the trial date draws nearer, an increasing number of supporters are using the hashtag “#FreeYNWMelly,” causing it to trend on Twitter. It’s important to note that Melly’s bond request was denied in 2019 after he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Reintroduction of Death Penalty
In a significant development, the prosecution decided to reintroduce the death penalty petition, which had been abandoned in July 2022 with the cooperation of the victim’s family. YNW Melly and Bortlen, both members of the YNW collective, were accused of the murders of Christopher Thomas Jr. and Anthony Williams. At the time of his arrest, Melly was 19 years old, while the victims were 19 and 21, respectively.
