After being delayed from the original Oct. 9 start day, the second trial for YNW Melly’s double murder charges will begin jury selection on Wednesday. 

The postponement was caused by an overhaul in the prosecution after the defense succeeded in getting Assistant State Attorney Kristine Bradley removed from the case. Bradley was accused of withholding evidence of misconduct by lead investigator Detective Mark Moretti regarding an illegal search of Jamie King’s, Melly’s mother, phone. Broward County Circuit Court Judge John Murphy took the extreme measure “out of an abundance of caution.”

Bradley is being replaced by Alixandra Buckelew. Buckelew, who successfully tried the three men convicted of murdering XXXTentacion during a 2018 robbery, attempted to delay the retrial until December to familiarize herself with the details in this case but  was denied the request due to Melly’s right to a speedy trial.

This is not the only connection between this Melly’s case and that of the slain Florida rapper. Robert Allen, a fourth assailant turned cooperating defendant in the XXXTentacion trial, is listed as a potential witness for the prosecution in documents published by DJ Akademiks.

YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, is accused of shooting and killing group members Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas with the help of Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry. 

Earlier this month, Demons and Henry were charged with witness tampering for allegedly using third parties to keep key witnesses from testifying. Jurors in the original trial could not unanimously decide on a verdict which resulted in a mistrial.