MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Seventeen-year-old Jahara Malik was allowed to return home Thursday, but this time under total lockdown house arrest.
Malik, who is charged with manslaughter as an adult in the fatal stabbing of her ex-boyfriend, Yahkeim Lollar, also 17, will now be restricted to her home except for attending school and meeting with her attorneys.
Malik is accused of fatally stabbing Lollar on Dec. 20 in a parking garage at his apartment complex in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood. She previously claimed they were “horseplaying” before the incident, according to investigators.
Malik was initially released on a $50,000 bond with GPS monitoring, but prosecutors argued for tougher restrictions.
During Thursday’s pretrial detention hearing, the state pushed for Level 1 house arrest — essentially a total lockdown — with exceptions only for school and attorney meetings. The decision was made over the objections of Lollar’s family, who wanted Malik jailed immediately.
Prosecutors cited Malik’s age and lack of prior criminal history as the sole reasons for not seeking full incarceration.
The judge sided with the state and ordered elevated house arrest. However, any violation will result in Malik being taken into custody and sent to jail.
The defense sought permission for Malik to relocate to her aunt’s home in Port St. Lucie, but the judge denied the request, citing concerns about monitoring her outside the jurisdiction.
During the hearing, the judge also reviewed surveillance video footage of a previous school fight involving Malik, presented by prosecutors as part of their case.
Prosecutors also presented evidence to the judge, including claims that Malik was known to carry a knife and had sent text messages discussing harming others.
On Thursday, Lollar’s family continued to pack the courtroom and condemned the judge’s decision, insisting Malik should be behind bars.
“She did the crime, she should do the time, so no house arrest with lockdown doesn’t make me feel better,” said Nathalie Jean, Yahkeim’s mother. “Who horseplay’s with a knife?”
Prosecutors also introduced video evidence of a violent fight at Malik’s high school, which resulted in a 10-day suspension.
In the end, the judge sided with the state and ordered an elevated form of house arrest but made it clear that any violation would result in immediate incarceration.
Trial has been set for May.
