French rapper MHD was on Saturday sentenced to 12 years in prison for the 2018 murder of a young man in Paris who was rammed with a vehicle before being set upon by a mob and stabbed.
Five of his fellow defendants were also jailed over the killing, receiving prison 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.
Photo: AFP
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.
The convicted — who all pleaded not guilty — have 10 days to appeal.
The prosecutor had asked for an 18-year prison sentence for the rapper, acquittals for two of the accused and jail sentences of 13 to 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 about 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 Agence France-Presse.
The vehicle was found abandoned and burned out in a parking lot a day after the killing.
“A judicial truth emerged despite the law of silence,” said Juliette Chapelle, lawyer for the victim’s family.
The performer is best known for Afro Trap Part 3 (Champions League), a song in praise of the Paris Saint-Germain soccer club.
He had made waves abroad, drawing admiration from global stars such as Drake and Madonna.
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