YNW Melly jury selection to be livestreamed in Florida retrial

Judge Martin S. Fein has ordered that the jury selection process for rapper YNW Melly’s double-murder retrial be livestreamed to a separate courtroom. This decision follows concerns regarding the integrity of the previous trial, which the judge noted was marred by “numerous incidents of inappropriate contact and inappropriate communication” between members of the public and prospective jurors.

To ensure security, 500 prospective jurors will be summoned in Broward County, Florida, and screened in groups of 50 to eventually form a panel of 60. Spectators will not be permitted to sit inside the courtroom during the selection process. The retrial is scheduled to begin on January 6, 2027.

In related legal developments, Melly’s defense team has filed a motion to suppress evidence obtained via search warrants from Instagram, Snapchat, Google, and an iPhone. The attorneys allege that investigators used an affidavit containing intentional misstatements and omissions to secure the warrants.