Teen Rapper Kills Another Over Lyrics On The Internet
Published: Tuesday - December 2, 2008
Words by Allen Starbury
The 16-year-old victim, Ikye Nmezu (Photo: BBC)
A teenage rapper in London has been sentence to 4 1/2 years in jail for killing a 16-year-old over lyrics posted on the internet.
According to the BBC, an 18-year-old -- whose name has not been released -- pleaded guilty in court to the manslaughter of Ikye Nmezu from Edmonton, north London, back in February.
The rapper reportedly attacked Nmezu with a brick when they two met by chance in Ponders End, north London. The story of their beef began on the internet.
In the lyrics of one of the 18-year-old's songs mentioned a friend of Iyke's, which lead to an exchange of insults over the internet. When the two met, Iyke was struck on the forehead with the brick, then ran off.
The victim went to two hospitals for treatment, but his head wasn't scanned, and died. The cause of death was an abscess to the brain caused by an infection.
The BBC reports that a report into his treatment claimed there was a 70% he could have been saved if the brain injury had been noticed earlier.
Judge Richard Hawkins told the 18-year-old defendant that he accepted that he had not meant to kill Iyke. However, he added the use of the brick had been "plainly dangerous".
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