Frustration boiled over in court Thursday morning as supporters of a slain teenager urged a judge to intervene amid repeated delays in the trial of the teen accused of killing him.
Jahara Malik, 18, is charged with manslaughter in connection with the December 2024 stabbing death of 17-year-old Yahkeim Lollar, a Miami Northwestern High School student and football player.
“I’m not going to just continue [the case] today,” Judge Hernandez said during the hearing.
The courtroom was filled with Lollar’s supporters, many wearing shirts bearing his name and photo. For his family, the prolonged wait for justice has been deeply painful.
“It’s just like the worst toothache,” said Yahkeim’s father, Darveed Lollar. “It’s indescribable.”
“They keep prolonging it, prolonging it, prolonging it,” said Yahkeim’s mother, Nathalie Jean. “You have to relive it every day as a mother — a police officer coming to you and saying, ‘Ms. Jean, is Yahkeim Lollar your son?’ Yes. ‘I’m sorry to tell you, he didn’t make it.’ Do you know how that feels? That plays in my head every day.”
According to court records, Miami police officers and paramedics found Lollar with a stab wound to the chest on the third floor of an apartment complex parking garage. Investigators said Malik told them she pulled out a knife “in the spirit of horseplay” and collided with Lollar, which led to the stabbing. Malik called 911, but Lollar later died from his injuries.
About a year ago, Lollar’s family and friends demonstrated outside the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, demanding charges against Malik. Within two weeks, Malik turned herself in and was charged with manslaughter. Despite that, her trial has yet to begin.
Melba Pearson, a victims’ rights attorney representing Lollar’s family, accused the defense of intentionally delaying the case.
“I’m a former prosecutor,” Pearson said. “I’ve handled many cases like this, many homicides. Sometimes things go slowly, but this is unacceptable. The defense has barely done any depositions. There’s been no investigation on their end. They have not done their due diligence to move this forward.”
An assistant state attorney told Judge Hernandez that Malik’s attorney, Larry Handfield, is still seeking negotiations. The judge made it clear she expects tangible progress.
“I just don’t want to keep granting continuances and then nothing is happening,” Judge Hernandez said. “When I say nothing, I mean meaningful conversations regarding either a potential resolution or depositions in order to prepare the case for trial.”