Rapper Boosie Badazz showed up to YNW Melly’s murder trial, which is underway in Florida on Monday.
Dallas Observer journalist Bryson ‘Boom’ Paul reported on Twitter that Boosie had attended the first day of court proceedings and was visibly annoyed by a man who was reportedly sleeping next to him when the testimonies were being heard. Melly was arrested in February 2019 for the murders of YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser.
Paul also reported that Boosie did not return to the court following the lunch recess in the trial.
According to Daily Loud, Boosie was there to support his friend Melly.
Boosie himself was on trial and found not guilty of murder in 2012. He offered defense information to Melly in 2019.
Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, would be the first person tried under a new law that makes it easier for a jury to make the fatal decision as to whether the rapper will face the death penalty. Rather than a unanimous vote, the jury only has to rule 8-4 in favor of giving him the death penalty.
YNW Melly’s attorney David Howard began the day with his opening argument focusing on prosecutors’ lack of motive for the murders. He said that the prosecution has gone to “great lengths” to remind jurors that the state does not need to prove the existence of a motive.
“But do you know what does require motive? A young man to wake up one day and decide that he’s going to kill two of his best friends, best friends that he grew up with, best friends that he hangs out with, best friends who he lives with, best friends whose careers he was trying to launch alongside his own,” Howard said.
“After four years of investigation, the state comes and says, ‘Hey, he killed two of his best friends.’ And you’re wondering why, and their answer is, ‘Uh, I dunno.’ That’s the first indication that they’re just guessing and don’t know what they’re talking about,” the defense attorney said.