Rappers brought back to UK to face murder trial

Two drill rappers have appeared in court charged with murdering a 16-year-old boy following their extradition from Kenya.

Tariq Kennedy Mangal, 21, who raps under the stage name Suspect, along with fellow Londoner Siyad Abdihakim, 24, who raps as Swavey, were arrested in Nairobi on January 26.

The pair are alleged to have been part of a gang which followed former Southampton youth footballer Alex Smith in cars before stabbing him to death in Camden, north London, on 12 August 2019.

David Burns, prosecuting, told Westminster Magistrates’ Court said: ‘The murder of Alex Smith is a gang related matter.

‘Mr Smith was also a gang member. It appears at some point he was spotted by a rival gang.

‘It is alleged he was followed by that group in vehicles.

‘He was approached and stabbed by a member of that group.

‘He subsequently passed away. There are other members of the gang involved.’

Mohamud, of Camden, and Mangal, of no fixed address, appeared in court separately charged with murder.

They were remanded in custody ahead of preliminary hearings at the Old Bailey later this week.