Ghetts, the British rapper and actor known for his role in the Netflix drama Supacell, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a fatal hit-and-run in London. He has also been banned from driving for 17 years.
The musician, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, previously pleaded guilty to causing the death of 20-year-old Nepalese student Yubin Tamang through reckless driving.
According to BBC, the crash occurred in October when Clarke-Samuel’s car, travelling at about 60 mph in a 30 mph zone, struck Tamang as he crossed a road in northeast London.
The student died in the hospital two days later.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee told the court Clarke-Samuel had consumed three glasses of brandy earlier in the evening, with tests showing his blood alcohol level was about one and a half times the legal limit. Investigators recovered a broken car mirror from the scene, which helped trace the vehicle to Clarke-Samuel.
Police said he ran six red lights before the collision and did not stop at the scene. Clarke-Samuel claimed he thought another car was following him, but police found no evidence to support that.
Tamang’s family read a statement in court describing the loss of their only child as “broken beyond repair.” They called the young student a “precious life taken far too soon” and said Clarke-Samuel’s actions had destroyed their son’s future.
Clarke-Samuel’s lawyer read an apology from the rapper expressing deep remorse. He said the crash was unintentional and that he was “profoundly sorry” for the suffering and pain caused.
Aside from acting, Ghetts is a prominent figure in the British music scene, with four studio albums and collaborations with artists including Stormzy, Skepta, Ed Sheeran, Dave, and Sampha. In Supacell, he played antagonist Craig, also known as Krazy.