Ghetts, a British rapper and actor who had a role in the Netflix series “Supacell,” has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for the hit-and-run death of a student in London.
According to BBC News, Ghetts — whose birth name is Justin Clarke-Samuel — previously pleaded guilty to causing the death of 20-year-old Nepalese student Yubin Tamang due to reckless driving. At the Old Bailey on Tuesday, he was given a 12-year jail sentence and was also disqualified from driving for 17 years.
In court, prosecutor Philip McGhee said that Ghetts had been drinking alcohol on the night of the hit-and-run in October and his blood alcohol level was 1.5 times over the legal limit. Ghetts previously admitted to drinking three glasses of brandy during a meal at a restaurant beforehand. Tamang was crossing the street in northeast London and was struck by Ghetts’ car, which was going 60 mph in a 30 mph zone, and died in the hospital two days after the accident. Ghetts did not stop at the scene.
Police later found a damaged mirror on the road and traced its serial number to that of Ghetts’ car. He admitted that he was driving recklessly — including failing to stop at six red traffic lights before the crash — but claimed it was because someone was following him, though evidence of this was not discovered.
Tamang’s family said in a statement: “We speak today with hearts broken beyond repair. Our only child, a precious soul, has been taken from us far too soon. Justin Clarke-Samuel has stolen our son’s future and ours with it… we can never forgive him for what he has done.”
Ghetts’ lawyer read aloud an apology from the rapper to Tamang’s family, expressing “extreme regret, shame and remorse.”
“This may be the only chance that I get to apologize,” he added. “It was truly an unintentional act on my part and I am so sincerely sorry for the suffering and emotional distress that I have caused.”
In “Supacell,” Ghetts played antagonist Craig, aka Krazy. As a rapper, he released four studio albums and has collaborated with the likes of Stormzy, Skepta, Ed Sheeran, Dave, Sampha and more.
