YNW Melly changing lawyers in murder case, blames prosecutors

Rafael Olmeda, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Aug 27, 2025

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Jamell “YNW Melly” Demons is asking a Broward County judge for permission to change lawyers, blaming prosecutors for forcing his hand by investigating a prominent member of his outgoing defense team.

Melly, the rapper facing retrial on two counts of first-degree murder, has been under pressure for most of the year to ditch his defense team after it was revealed that prosecutors were investigating whether attorney Raven Liberty crossed legal and ethical lines by allegedly engaging in witness tampering on her client’s behalf.

No charges have been filed, and Melly stuck with his legal team until earlier this month, when the trial was pushed into 2027.

“The state has been unwilling to share any information as to the nature of the investigation” into Liberty, the outgoing attorneys wrote in a motion filed Wednesday morning. “An attorney being under criminal investigation by the same prosecutorial body would constitute a conflict of interest.”

Jamie Benjamin, a member of the outgoing team, said that Melly was acting in his best interest by changing lawyers but that the situation effectively deprived him of retaining the counsel of his choice, an assertion that could be raised as an appellate issue in the future if Melly were to be found guilty.

The new lawyers representing Melly will be former Palm Beach County Public Defender Carrie Haughwout, who has extensive experience in criminal defense and appellate law, and Atlanta lawyer Drew Findling, whose past clients include Cardi B, Shaquille O’Neal, Dennis Rodman and Donald Trump.

Melly would face either the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty of the October 2018 murders of his childhood friends Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas. All three were members of a rap collective that produced and released music together. Investigators and prosecutors say the murders were partially gang-related.

A fourth member of the group, Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry, is scheduled to go on trial next month. Henry is accused of driving the Jeep in which the murders took place and plotting with Melly to make the shootings look like a drive-by shooting. Henry is charged with first-degree murder and accessory after the fact. He is not facing the possibility of the death penalty.

Melly’s first trial on the murder charges ended with a hung jury in 2023. The scheduling of his retrial has been marred by accusations and counter-accusations by lawyers on both sides alleging misconduct in the case. No court date has been set for Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein to accept the change of lawyers.

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