Photo: YNW Melly/Instagram
Rapper YNW Melly wants to be released from jail on bond as he awaits trial for thedouble murder of his two friends.
On Thursday the 20-year-old rapper’s attorney Bradford Cohen filed a motion to grant bond with the Broward County Court, explaining his client should be freed because he turned himself in.
Cohen also argues that Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, has “never purposefully missed a court date” and is not a flight risk, according to the court documents.
He also points out that Melly “has lived in the area for almost his entire life and all of his immediate family members live in the area.”
In addition, Cohen says there is “very little actual evidence,” against Melly and no real witnesses.
Cohen tells PEOPLE “the lack of evidence” is “the biggest aspect. The fact that they have little to no evidence aside from the allegation he was in the car at the time of the incident. Other than that, there is no evidence he was the one responsible for the deaths of his best friends.”
It is not immediately clear if Melly will be granted a bond hearing.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office/AP/Shutterstock
Melly, who is best known for his song “Murder on My Mind” and his recent collaboration withKanye Weston the track “Mixed Personalities,” has been held at the Broward County Jail without bond since hisarrestin February. He is facing the death penalty if convicted.
“The murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, and he committed homicide in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner,” the court documents state.
Florida is one of the 30 states where capital punishment is legal.
Melly allegedly shot Williams and Thomas Jr. on Oct. 26 in Fort Lauderdale.
Williams and Thomas were both pronounced dead at the hospital.
Williams was also known as YNW Sakchaser and Thomas was known as YNW Juvy. Both rappers werefeatured on a documentaryabout Melly posted on Melly’s YouTube page.
Henry told police he and the two victims had just wrapped a late-night studio session when a car pulled up on his driver’s side and opened fire as he was pulling off the freeway, TMZ reported. Cops confirmed there were eight bullet holes along the right side of the vehicle where Williams and Thomas Jr. sat, and Henry escaped injury.
Additionally, the outlet reports that the police allege Melly and Henrydrove around with the bodiesof Williams and Thomas Jr. after they had been shot “for a period of time” before driving to the hospital. Henry later told police that Melly was, in fact, in the same car with them but eventually got into another vehicle.
On Feb. 13, Melly, revealed on Instagram that he would beturning himself in to authorities.
“To all my fans and supporters… I am turning my self in today,” Melly wrote.
Henry was arrested in January in Houston and was extradited to Broward.
Just after the murder, Cohen said,according to theSun-Sentinel,the rapper is “sad, he’s upset, obviously.”
“Those are his best friends,” Cohen said.
In March, Melly and Henry pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the case,Billboardreported.
At this time, it is not certain that prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Henry, according to theSun-Sentinel.
Cohen previously told PEOPLE “We disagree with the assertions made in the notice and look forward to disapproving the charges.”
source: people.com
