FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (CBS12) — Jamell Demons, also known as rapper YNW Melly, is requesting to be released from the Broward County Jail for medical reasons after testing positive for coronavirus.
The 20-year-old Vero Beach native is accused of killing two of his longtime friends, 21-year-old Anthony Williams and 19-year-old Christopher Thomas Jr., in Miramar in 2018. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if he's found guilty.
But John M. Phillips, the lawyer representing the family of Thomas Jr., is saying the family doesn't want YNW Melly to be released.
"It is preposterous they seek to release him to a 'fan' and that defense counsel put that fan’s name, address, phone number and information in the public domain," he said. "We again ask the public to be sensitive of the victims here. They lost children."
That fan, who CBS12 News is not identifying, already agreed to house Cortlen Henry, who was arrested in January 2019 in connection to the killings, according to a motion filed by Phillips on Thursday. After shooting his friends, authorities say Demons and Henry drove them to the hospital and staged their Jeep to make it look like they got caught in a drive-by shooting. However, investigators said the evidence did not match up with Demons' story.
That fan's address and phone number is publicly accessible, which jeopardizes Henry's "safety and security," according to the motion. It also appears the fan has a school aged daughter, based on his social media, which should "disqualify him from housing someone charged with murder."
Phillips also says Thomas Jr.'s family will be pursuing all of the rights under Marsy's Law, which was passed in November 2018.
"We will seek to attend and be heard at depositions, advocate for victims at each step and make sure justice is fair, firm and full," Phillips said.
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