Rapper YNW Melly’s double murder trial began with opening statements, as prosecutors claim he admitted to the killings in an Instagram direct message.

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The double murder trial of rapper Jamell Demons, widely known as YNW Melly, commenced in Broward County, Florida, with opening statements from both the prosecution and defense. Melly, 24 years old, is facing two counts of murder for the shooting deaths of his fellow YNW collective members, Chris Thomas (YNW Juvy) and Anthony Williams (YNW Sakchaser), which occurred in 2018.

The prosecution presented a claim that Melly bragged and confessed to the deadly shootings in a direct message on Instagram. Prosecutor Kristine Bradley argued that due to Melly’s moderate social media following at the time, individuals reached out to him, expressing concern and checking on his well-being. One alleged message received by Melly asked, “Yo, homie. You good? Let me know something.” According to the prosecution, Melly succinctly replied, “I did that. Shh.”

The defense, represented by attorney David A. Howard, challenged law enforcement’s alleged lack of a motive for Melly’s actions. Howard invited the jurors to delve into the mind of the accused and questioned why a young man would wake up one day and decide to kill his best friends without any discernible reason. Mocking the prosecution’s uncertainty about the motive, Howard emphasized that after four years of investigation, their answer of “Uh, I dunno” suggests guesswork and a lack of understanding.

YNW Melly, who has been in jail since turning himself in on February 13, 2019, has maintained his innocence throughout. In an Instagram post, he expressed sorrow over the loss of his “two brothers” and stated his trust in God and the justice system. Melly’s Instagram account has encouraged followers to watch the trial livestream on Law&Crime while requesting prayers.

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As the trial progresses, the prosecution will aim to establish Melly’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, while the defense will continue to challenge the motive and evidence presented by the state. The outcome of this high-profile case will ultimately be determined by the 12 jurors empaneled to decide YNW Melly’s fate.