NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM
US rapper YNW Melly has been denied release from prison after testing positive for coronavirus while awaiting his murder trial.
The ‘Mixed Personalities’ rapper is behind bars in Broward County, Florida, after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Mellyâs lawyers had argued that he was in danger of dying due to complications from the disease and said he was receiving inadequate care at the jail. He was also seeking house arrest and permission to be treated at a hospital.
His release has since been rejected, as TMZ reports, although the judgeâs order has reportedly stated that he can request special medical treatment from the Broward Sheriffâs Office.
His legal team first announced plans to file a motion for restricted release in the wake of the diagnosis two weeks ago.
@lawroninâThe jails and prisons in this country are creating an extremely dangerous situation by not providing hand sanitizer and proper hygiene care,â Mellyâs attorney Bradford Cohen told local press. âI have prepared and will be filing an emergency motion in the morning for his conditional release.â
Melly, real name Jamell Maurice Demons, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in February 2019 by police investigating the deaths of Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr, who were both shot dead. His associate Cortlen Henry, otherwise known as YNW Bortlen, was also arrested and charged.
In April last year, prosecutors confirmed they are seeking the death penalty for the rapper. He is accused of staging the original crime scene with accomplice Cortlen Henry to make it appear like the two men had been killed in a brutal drive-by shooting.
The post YNW Melly denied release from jail after testing positive for coronavirus appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.
