Ahead of the second day of his double murder trial, YNW Melly is requesting prayers via social media.

The Florida rapper, who’s accused of shooting and killing two of his friends in October 2018, took to Instagram in a now-taken down post pleading his fans for their support as his life is currently in the hands of Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy.

“Go watch and support me during trial,” wrote the rapper, accompanied by a green heart emoji, according to HipHopDX. “Send a prayer for me [praying hands emoji] [Earth emoji] Day 2.”

Melly appeared to wipe back tears as footage of his alleged victims was played in court when his trial officially began.

In July, 2022, a Florida judge removed the death penalty option as a possible sentence for YNW Melly, who remains behind bars on double homicide charges. XXL Magazine (via Complex) reports that the 23-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Jamell Maurice Demons, received the news on July 6 during a preliminary hearing in Broward County.

Melly and YNW Bortlen were arrested and each charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities say the two men fatally shot their friends, 20-year-old Chris “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and 21-year-old Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams, in October 2018.

Melly and Bortlen are accused of killing the victims and then attempting to stage the crime scene to resemble a drive-by shooting. The former pled not guilty to the first-degree murder charges in March 2019 and then would go on to address his arrest in a since-deleted Instagram post that same year.