YNW Melly Hires Boosie Badazz' Lawyer for Murder Trial

After pleading not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, YNW Melly is building his defense team.

The 19-year-old Florida rapper has hired Boosie Badazz’ former lawyer, Jason Roger Williams, to represent him in his double murder trial. According to legal documents obtained by XXL, a Broward County judge approved Williams’ addition to the case on April 3.

“I feel very confident. We have a very strong team with Brad Cohen and Nicole Burdett and myself,” Williams said of the case. “We feel really good about it. This is a process, and we’re hoping that it’s a fair process and all the evidence comes out.”

Williams is the Louisiana lawyer who represented Boosie during his 2011 murder trial, where he was acquitted of first-degree murder charges in 2012.

YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Feb. 13 stemming from the October 2018 shooting of his friends, Anthony Williams (YNW Sakchaser) and Christopher Thomas Jr. (YNW Juvy), near Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cortlen Henry (YNW Bortlen) was also arrested in connection with the killings.

The Miramar Police Department claims to have forensic and video evidence proving that Demons and Henry shot the men and staged the crime to make it seem like Williams and Thomas Jr. were killed during a drive-by shooting. The two men were pronounced dead at the hospital after being shot in the head, torso, and back.

YNW Melly will remain in Broward County jail until a trial date has been set. Since his arrest, his music has seen an increase in streams and his single “Murder on My Mind” was certified platinum by the RIAA last month.