YNW Melly’s wait for the outcome of the double murder case against him will be considerably longer. The 4th District Court of Appeals in Florida has decided to postpone the rapper’s retrial until early 2027. The musician has been incarcerated in the state since early 2019.

At a hearing on Friday, August 8, the court ruled that the trial of the “Murder on My Mind” rapper would not start next month as scheduled. As the appeals court reviews a motion from the state attorney’s office regarding the type of evidence that can be used in court, there will instead be a postponement until January.

In 2023, Melly’s case was first resolved by a mistrial. Problems with evidence and a rumoured inquiry into one of Melly’s lawyers have delayed the state’s second attempt, which was delayed Friday.

Melly and YNW Bortlen, a member of his gang, are charged with the murders of Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. In October 2018, Thomas and Williams were killed. Bortlen claimed that the two crew members were the victims of a drive-by gunshot and drove them to a hospital in Miramar, Florida.

Bortlen and Melly became suspects within months, and Melly gave himself in the following February. Since then, he has been incarcerated. The families of Sakchaser and Juvy are suing him in civil court in addition to the criminal accusations in the case.