YNW Melly. Photo by Broward's Sheriff's Office via Getty Images.
Alixandra Buckelew, a prosecutor who helped convict three men accused in the 2018 murder of XXXTentacion, has been assigned to YNW Melly‘s double murder trial. Broward Circuit Court Judge John Murphy brought Buckelew onto the case after recusing Broward County Assistant State Attorney Kristine Bradley on Friday, October 13.
Bradley was removed from the case last week following a motion filed by Melly’s defense team. The Florida rapper’s attorneys had asked for the entire Broward County State Attorney’s Office to be removed from the case due to questions over the legality of a search on a cell phone belonging to Melly’s mother. Assistant State Attorney Michelle Boutros testified last week that she heard the case’s lead investigator, Detective Mark Moretti, demand that a Broward County Sheriff’s deputy lie about being present when the search warrant on the phone was carried out, as is required by law. Prosecutors claim that the comments were made in jest.
Buckelew attempted to have the start date of the trial pushed in order to give the prosecution time to prepare its case. However, the Miami Herald reports that jury selection is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 18, with the trial beginning as early as the 20th, thanks to state laws pertaining to national sixth-amendment speedy trial rights.
Judge Murphy still has to rule on several motions, including one to dismiss the case entirely, though the swearing-in of a new prosecutor suggests that one is unlikely to be approved. Last week, the Judge said that court sessions on Fridays would be used to resolve the outstanding motions.
Melly is accused of killing Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. in a 2018 shooting; prosecutors have accused the rapper of covering up the deaths to look like a targeted drive-by shooting. For a detailed look into Melly’s case, read The FADER’s explainer.
