British rapper and actor Ghetts charged after fatal hit-and-run
A British rapper and actor has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a 20-year-old man died following a hit and run.
Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, is accused of failing to stop following the crash in Ilford, north east London on Saturday (18 October).
The 41-year-old, from Woodford Green, appeared at Stratford Magistrates' Court on Monday (20 October), the same day the man died from his injuries in hospital, BBC reports.
Following the news of the man's death, the charges against the rapper are expected to change from causing serious injury to causing death by dangerous driving at the next hearing.
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Clarke-Samuel is currently in custody on remand and is due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on Monday (27 October).
Police are appealing for anyone who might have witnessed anything on the night of the incident to come forward.
Ghetts, who played at Glastonbury last year, has not yet commented on the charges against him.
The musician has featured in tracks alongside a number of big artists, including Skepta, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran, and toured abroad with Top Boy star Kano.
He was previously a member of East London grime group Nasty Crew and won the best male act award at the Mobos in 2021, as well as being nominated for a Mercury Prize. In 2024, he won the Mobo Pioneer Award in 2024 for his contribution to British black culture.
The 41-year-old also co-starred in Netflix's Supacell, a superhero drama which follows a group of Londoners who suddenly develop magic powers as a result of sickle cell disease.
Meanwhile, the identity of the man who died has not been released by police yet.
If found guilty, Clarke-Samuel could face a lengthy time behind bars as the maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving can now be life imprisonment, having risen from a maximum of 14 years in 2022.
However it will depend on the category of the offence, which is determined by factors such as the use of a mobile phone, racing others and whether there are any other previous driving offences.
The fact the rapper is accused of failing to stop at the scene would likely also be an aggravating factor when it came to sentencing, if he either pleads guilty or is found guilty following a trial. Mitigating factors can include showing remorse or proof of acting in a genuine emergency.
Emma Rosemurgey