Boy gives evidence at Sait murder trial
PROSECUTORS CLAIM YOUTUBE CLIPS WERE BID TO ESTABLISH GANG STATUS
A BOY on trial for the murder of teenager Sait Mboob has taken to the witness box to protest his innocence.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies taking part in a fatal attack on Sait, 18, in Moss Side in August last year.
The prosecutor in the Manchester Crown Court murder trial claims the killing was perpetrated by members of an Ardwick and Longsight-based gang called 7M.
It is alleged that Sait was a ‘known target’ of the gang, and jurors were told he died after 7M armed themselves with knives, machetes and a hammer for ‘extreme’ and ‘lethal’ violence.
Prosecutors say that before the killing members of 7M recorded YouTube rap videos in a bid to establish their status as a Manchester gang.
In the clips, which have been played to the jury, there is mention of ‘Gunchester,’ and talk of ‘taking control’ of Longsight and Moss Side.
Questioned by his barrister, Christopher Nolan QC, the 17-year-old said the videos were just a bit of fun.
The defendant said a professional company had been paid £80 to come to Ardwick and record a video, as well as provide the musical accompaniment then post the video on YouTube. He and others provided the lyrics, and the defendant said he rapped during the chorus while others performed the verses.
Asked how he came up with the lyrics, the defendant said it was ‘just a freestyle that I made up.’
“Did you enjoy it (making the videos)?,” Mr Nolan asked.
“It was just a bit of fun,” the defendant replied.
During further questioning by Mr Nolan, the jury were told there was a ‘rivalry’ between young men in Ardwick and Moss Side.
Asked what the rivalry was about, the defendant said it was ‘just an argument,’ ‘misunderstanding.’
He said it related to an incident six months prior to Sait’s death.
Asked what this was, the defendant said: “Just people telling lies about other people which made people angry.”
Giving evidence, the defendant also admitted to have been dealing drugs ‘pretty much all around Manchester.’
The defendant, who is also charged with three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, is expected to accept that he was in a Mercedes which travelled to Moss Side, but that he was an ‘innocent bystander’ and got out of the car ‘to see what was happening.’
He was due to continue giving evidence today. Proceeding