French rapper MHD gets 12 years in prison for youth's murder
PARIS - French rapper MHD was sentenced Saturday to 12 years in prison for the 2018 murder of a young man in Paris who was rammed with a car before being set upon by a mob and stabbed.
Five of his fellow defendants were also jailed over the killing, receiving jail terms of between 10 and 18 years, over what prosecutors said was a fight between rival gangs. Three other men were acquitted.
The pioneer of afro-trap -- a mix of hip-hop and African traditions -- MHD rose to fame after becoming a viral sensation in 2015.
The 29-year-old, whose real name is Mohamed Sylla, was charged with homicide in January 2019 and imprisoned. He was released after a year and a half in custody as investigations continued, and released a new album.
As Saturday's verdict was handed down, several women in the public gallery burst into tears. MHD hugged one of them, maintaining his composure.
Those convicted -- who all pleaded not guilty -- have 10 days to appeal.
![Although the rapper denied having been at the scene, video footage captured his Mercedes there Although the rapper denied having been at the scene, video footage captured his Mercedes there](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/afp/2023-09/doc-33WB83A-copy-%40photo0.jpg.webp?itok=D3kHww0b)
During his final statement to the court before it retired to render the verdict after three weeks of proceedings, he had again proclaimed his innocence.
"From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence in this case and I will continue to maintain my innocence," he told the packed court.
The prosecutor had asked for an 18-year prison sentence for the rapper, acquittals for two of the accused, and jail sentences of 13-20 years for the others.
On the night of July 5, 2018, 23-year-old Loic K was rammed by a black Mercedes and then beaten up and stabbed by around a dozen people in a gritty part of the capital's 10th arrondissement.
Although the rapper denied having been at the scene, a local resident filmed the incident from his window, and the Mercedes was quickly identified as belonging to MHD.
Other witnesses identified him by his haircut or a sweatshirt by Puma -- for which he was a brand ambassador -- according to investigative reports seen by AFP.
The car was found abandoned and burned out in a car park a day after the killing.
"A judicial truth emerged despite the law of silence," said Juliette Chapelle, lawyer for the victim's family.
The killing happened in the Cite des Chaufourniers, a low-income estate in the area that the former pizza delivery driver continued to frequent despite his fame.
The football-mad performer, who was born in France to Guinean and Senegalese parents, is best known for "Afro Trap Part 3 (Champions League)", a song in praise of the Paris Saint-Germain football club.
He had made waves abroad, drawing admiration from global stars such as Drake and Madonna.
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