MHD, real name Mohamed Sylla, was sentenced on September 24 after the victim was rammed with a car before being set upon by a mob – Copyright AFP/File THOMAS SAMSON
French rapper MHD on Wednesday appealed a 12-year jail term handed down last month for the 2018 murder of a young man in Paris, his lawyer Antoine Vey said.
MHD, real name Mohamed Sylla, was sentenced on September 24 after the victim was rammed with a car before being set upon by a mob and stabbed to death.
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.
Four of them have likewise appealed, while the other defendant is currently on the run, a source close to the case said.
Three other men were acquitted of the killing on the night of July 5 of Loic K, 23, run over by a Mercedes in Paris’ tenth district.
The car was found burnt the following day in a parking lot.
Several witnesses placed Sylla at the scene of the crime. 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.
He denies any involvement in the murder.
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 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 prosecution had demanded he be slapped with an 18-year term.
With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Digital Journal – https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/french-rapper-mhd-appeals-murder-jail-term/article