In a surprising turn of events in the YNW Melly double murder case, a new prosecutor will represent the state in the upcoming retrial. Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Buckaloo, known for her role in the XXXTentacion murder trial, will now take the lead. This development comes after the previous lead prosecutor, Christine Bradley, was removed from the case due to her failure to disclose crucial information to the defense.
Buckaloo is no stranger to high-profile cases, having been part of the prosecution team that successfully convicted the three men responsible for the murder of rapper XXXTentacion in 2018. Dedrick Williams, Michael Boatwright, and Trayvon Newsome were all sentenced to life in prison in April for the crime.
Buckaloo’s appointment follows the recusal of Bradley, who was removed from the case after failing to inform Melly’s defense team about a serious allegation against lead investigator Mark Moretti. The allegation stems from a 2022 incident where Moretti allegedly seized the phone of Melly’s mother and asked a deputy to lie about being present during the search warrant execution.
Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Buckaloo in court
Assistant State Attorney Michelle Budro, who witnessed the incident, testified in court about Moretti’s alleged actions. “I don’t work with detectives that solicit lies,” Budro stated, further adding to the controversy surrounding the case.
This revelation led to Judge Murphy’s decision to remove Bradley from the case “out of an abundance of caution,” as the defense planned to call her as a witness in the retrial.
Following her appointment, Buckaloo requested an extension for the trial, pushing it to early 2024. She argued that she needed more time to familiarize herself with the case, given Bradley’s five-year involvement. However, Judge Murphy decided to proceed with the original timeline, with jury selection scheduled to begin on October 18th.
Rapper YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, is facing a possible death sentence if convicted of the murders of his childhood friends and musical collaborators, Anthony Williams (YNW Sakchaser) and Christopher Thomas Jr. (YNW Juvie).
The state alleges that Melly shot and killed Williams and Thomas in October 2018 after leaving a recording studio session. They claim that Melly then colluded with his co-defendant, Cortlen Henry (YNW Bortlen), to stage the murders as a drive-by shooting.
Melly has remained in jail since his 2019 arrest. His first trial ended in a mistrial in July. Henry, who was previously out on bond, was taken back into custody two weeks ago on allegations of witness tampering following Melly’s mistrial.
Rapper YNW Melly
The upcoming retrial is expected to be a complex and high-profile event. Jury selection alone could take weeks, with over 100 potential jurors expected to be brought in.
Judge Murphy still needs to rule on several motions, including one to dismiss the case entirely. However, given Buckaloo’s reputation and the seriousness of the charges, a dismissal seems unlikely.
The YNW Melly double murder case continues to grip public attention with its intricate legal proceedings and shocking allegations. With Buckaloo now at the helm of the prosecution, the retrial promises to be a closely watched event.
