A drill rapper has been found guilty of murdering a father in front of his young child in an east London barbershop.
Renai Belle, 30, was convicted on Wednesday for the murder of Josh KcKay, 31, following a five-week trial at the Old Bailey.
Tenika Parker, 39, who drove Belle to the scene in Leyton, Waltham Forest, and Daniel Cooper, 22, who provided a knife and balaclava for the attack, were both cleared of murder.
But Parker was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and possessing a bladed article, while Cooper had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article.
Belle, who goes by the alias Topz, uploaded a video to YouTube before the murder and referenced his desire to attack Mr McKay.
Prosecutor Louis Mably KC said that Mr McKay had been having his hair cut at a barbers on Lea Bridge Road on July 8, 2024 when he was killed in front of his child.
The barber told Metropolitan Police officers he had seen an individual wearing a balaclava and carrying a large kitchen knife.
"The man approached Mr McKay, and just as Mr McKay swivelled round on the chair to see what was going on, the man plunged the knife into his neck and then pulled the knife out," Mr Mably said.
Mr McKay then picked up the knife which had dropped on the floor and chased the attacker out of the shop, the court heard.
A female passer-by, who saw someone "creeping" towards the shop and carrying something in his right hand, went into the business and called 999.
The child witnessed the attack and was upset, saying "that's my dad", the court heard.
Parker was heard to have been in a relationship with Belle and drove him to Cooper's address to collect a knife and balaclava.
She then drove Belle back to the scene where he carried out the murder before returning to the car and being lifted back to Parker's property.
Belle, of Edmonton, Enfield, claimed he had acted in self-defence, while Cooper, of Gosport Road in Waltham Forest, and Parker, of Canterbury Road in Waltham Forest, said they were not aware of his intentions.
Cooper will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, June 6.
Meanwhile, Belle and Parker will be sentenced on July 30.
Detective Inspector Chris Griffith, from Scotland Yard’s Specialist Crime North division, who led the investigation, said: “This was a savage and pre-planned attack, committed in broad daylight and with scant regard for passers-by.”
He added: “What took place left the local community reeling, and two young children without their father.
“My heart goes out to Josh’s family and friends.
“He was a loving parent, whose life was ended in the most horrendous way.
“I hope that today’s result provides Josh’s family with some closure, and allows the community to feel safer knowing that Belle is no longer free to commit such heinous crimes.”
