Grime producers face music for murder plot

11 December 2009

TWO music producers who tried to murder a pregnant 15 year-old girl for getting in the way of their careers have been jailed for a total of 32 years.

Brandon Jolie, 19, who made an album with chart-topping grime star Tinchy Stryder, wanted the victim killed to stop her having his baby.

He recruited fellow musician Kingsley Ogundele, 19, during a six-hour online chat after complaining she was "trying to f*** up my life".

The pair arranged to lure the victim to her death at the Regents Canal in Islington, north London.

Ogundele, of Retford Rd, Romford, then battered the girl over the head with a metal pole, punched and kicked her and pushed her into the water.

She only survived because a passer-by interrupted the attack as Ogundele held her head under the water.

Tour guide Andrew Hall was commended for his bravery at the Old Bailey last week as the pair were sentenced by Judge Paul Worsley QC.

Jolie, who was known on the music scene as Maniac, was jailed for 14 years after admitting conspiracy to murder.

His friend Ogundele, known as Snoopy Montana, was convicted of the same charge after a trial and jailed for 18 years.

Judge Worsley said: "The best years of your lives are now to be spent behind bars."

In a statement to the court, the victim said her whole family had been forced to move out of London in fear for their lives.

Detective Inspector Helen Williams said outside court: "It is difficult to comprehend the casual way in which Ogundele and Jolie callously plotted to kill the victim - all because they didn't want Jolie's aspirations of fame to be affected."

Both Ogundele and Jolie were well known in the grime rap scene, a combination of hip-hop, garage and dancehall styles.

Jolie's music was used for a Nike advert and in the British film Adulthood and had earned him success at an early age.

He also earned an FA coaching badge at the age of 15 and had previously played with the West Ham schoolboy team.

Jolie had been in a relationship with the victim, from Lewisham, southeast London, until August last year when she discovered she was pregnant.

He had tried to persuade her to have an abortion, but she decided to keep the baby.

On October 19 last year Jolie began complaining to Ogundele about the girl's behaviour during a chat on the MSN chat service.

The conversation had to be translated by police because of its use of internet and youth slang.

Prosecutor Vivek D'Cruz said: "What those translations reveal is the appallingly casual and callous ways these two feral youths quickly plot ways to murder the teenager."

The pair drew up a 10-point plan for the murder which was later found by detectives on Ogundele's computer.

The girl, who later gave birth to a healthy baby boy, told police: "I thought I was going to die."

Jolie, of Redwood Close, Tower Hamlets, east London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder.

In a letter to the victim, read out in court, he said: "I am writing this letter to tell you personally how sorry I am for causing you pain.

"..I am thankful you were not seriously hurt. I wish you good luck in the future."

Ogundele denied conspiracy to murder.