Rapper YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, returned to court this week for a critical pretrial hearing that could shape the timeline and direction of his long running double h*micide case.

The hearing drew significant attention not only because of its legal implications, but also because it marked a rare and highly visible disagreement between Demons and his own legal team.

According to courtroom observers, this was the first time Demons openly went against his attorneys advice during a public proceeding.

During arguments over whether certain evidence related to alleged gang affiliation should be suppressed, Demons was seen reacting emotionally and speaking out in court.

Witnesses inside the courtroom reported that he stated he did not care about the gang related evidence and maintained that he was not part of any gang.

He reportedly insisted that the state could not prove such affiliation.

The dispute centered on whether prosecutors should be allowed to introduce evidence suggesting that the alleged crimes were committed to benefit a gang.

Under Florida law, proving gang involvement can act as an aggravating factor during sentencing, particularly in capital cases.

If accepted by a jury, such an aggravator can influence whether the state seeks the most severe penalties available.

Demons legal team had previously argued that certain gang related materials should be excluded.

Their concern, according to legal analysts, was that if the court suppressed that evidence and the state appealed the ruling, the trial could face additional delays.

Some projections suggested that further appeals could push the next trial date into 2027.

By that time, Demons would have spent between seven and nine years in jail without a conviction.

The presiding judge made it clear that the court was not inclined to delay the proceedings further.

The division currently handles dozens of serious cases, many of them complex.

The court calendar is already booked well into late 2026.

As it stands, the retrial is scheduled to begin on September 10 of this year unless an appellate court intervenes.

Prosecutors indicated that if certain evidence remains suppressed, they would be forced to proceed without it.

They acknowledged that suppressed evidence cannot legally be presented to the jury.

However, they also signaled that they may seek relief from a higher court in an attempt to reinstate key materials before trial begins.

Following the hearing, Demons mother addressed supporters on social media.

She explained that the judge had upheld prior suppression rulings and confirmed that the trial would move forward in September.

She also noted that the suppressed evidence was tied to the states earlier effort to qualify the case for the most severe penalty phase.

At the conclusion of the hearing, defense attorneys requested that Demons be granted bond until trial.

That request was denied.

Court records show that Demons has now been incarcerated for more than 2,300 days without a guilty verdict.

The judge cited the seriousness of the charges and the states updated evidence file as reasons for continued detention.

Prosecutors recently revealed additional evidence that they claim strengthens their case.

Among the materials referenced in prior proceedings is surveillance footage allegedly showing Demons hours after the fatal shooting of his two friends, Anthony Williams known as Sakchaser and Christopher Thomas Jr known as Juvy.

In one clip presented in earlier hearings, Demons and co defendant Cortlen Henry were seen dancing in a parking lot.

Prosecutors have argued that the footage shows no visible signs of distress shortly after the incident.

Another significant piece of evidence involves video recorded approximately thirty minutes before the shooting.

According to court documents, the footage shows Demons entering a vehicle and sitting in the back left seat.

Prosecutors contend that forensic analysis of bullet trajectories indicates shots were fired from left to right within the vehicle, consistent with that seating position.

During the original trial, the mother of Christopher Thomas Jr testified that her son entered the back right seat of the Jeep on the night in question.

She identified Demons as the individual who entered the back left seat.

Prosecutors argue that this testimony supports their reconstruction of the events.

Forensic experts have also testified about gunshot residue findings.

A state forensic scientist told jurors that particles characteristic of residue were found on the hands of co defendant Cortlen Henry.

The defense, however, has previously argued that residue findings alone do not establish who fired a weapon, as particles can transfer through proximity.

The first trial ended in a mistrial in 2023 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Since then, both sides have continued filing motions and refining their strategies.

In addition to the double h*micide charges, Demons is facing separate allegations related to witness tampering.

Prosecutors allege that efforts were made to prevent a key witness, identified as his former girlfriend Mariah Hamilton, from testifying in the original trial.

Hamilton had reportedly been outside the United States for an extended period before being detained upon re entry.

Court filings indicate that Hamilton was ordered to testify in 2023 but did not appear.

After her arrest at an airport in Florida, she was held in custody.

During subsequent proceedings, she agreed to cooperate with authorities.

Public posts made after her release suggested she viewed the outcome as part of a larger plan for her life.

Investigators have stated that digital evidence recovered from cloud accounts may support the witness tampering allegations.

The charges include tampering with a witness, solicitation to commit tampering, and unlawful use of a communication device.

Some of these offenses carry potential life sentences if a conviction is secured.

Importantly, the witness tampering case is separate from the double h*micide trial.

Legal experts note that even if Demons were acquitted in the primary case, a conviction on the tampering charges alone could result in decades behind bars.

Another development that has drawn attention is Demons restricted access to jail phones.

His mother has publicly complained that he has been denied normal communication privileges, including phone calls and mail access.

Observers speculate that the restrictions may be linked to ongoing investigations into alleged attempts to influence testimony.

Jail officials have not publicly detailed the specific reasons for the limitations.

Co defendant Cortlen Henry remains a central figure in the case.

During the first trial, Demons defense team suggested that Henry was responsible for the shooting.

They highlighted that Henry drove the vehicle to a hospital after the incident and that gunshot residue was detected on his hands.

The defense also pointed to inconsistencies in Henry statements to investigators.

Henry has maintained his innocence.

Social media observers noted that he posted a cryptic message on the day the mistrial was declared, referencing mind games.

Since then, he has largely remained silent online.

Prosecutors have moved to try Demons and Henry together in the upcoming retrial.

Legal analysts explain that joint trials can benefit the state by presenting a unified narrative and potentially creating tension between co defendants.

In contrast, defense attorneys often prefer separate trials to allow each defendant to argue that the other was solely responsible.

If the case proceeds as scheduled in September, jurors will first determine guilt or innocence.

Only if Demons is convicted would a separate penalty phase occur to decide sentencing.

The state has previously indicated its intention to seek the most severe penalty available under law.

The retrial is expected to revisit many of the same pieces of evidence presented in 2023, along with any newly admitted materials.

Given the length of pretrial detention and the high stakes involved, the case continues to attract national attention.

For now, the court has signaled that it intends to move forward without further delay.

Unless an appellate court issues a stay, jury selection will begin in approximately two months.

After years of motions, appeals, and procedural battles, the second trial may finally bring a decisive outcome in one of Florida most closely watched criminal cases.