British Rapper Ghetts Sentenced to 12 Years for Fatal Hit-and-Run

British rapper Justin Clarke-Samuel, professionally known as Ghetts, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Tuesday for causing the death of Nepali student Yubin Tamang in a hit-and-run incident. The accident occurred last October when Clarke-Samuel was driving dangerously and over the legal alcohol limit.

The 41-year-old artist pleaded guilty in December to causing the death of 20-year-old Tamang by dangerous driving. According to prosecutor Philip McGhee, Clarke-Samuel had been drinking before driving home dangerously, running red lights, and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Clarke-Samuel was driving at nearly 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) when he hit Tamang, causing catastrophic injuries. Despite the severe damage to his windscreen, Clarke-Samuel did not stop and drove eight miles home.

The court heard that Tamang had come to the UK from Nepal to study and was an only child. His mother, Sharmila Tamang, tearfully read a statement in court through a translator, expressing her grief and loss. The judge also noted Clarke-Samuel's previous convictions for 27 offenses dating back to 2000.

Clarke-Samuel's lawyer Benjamin Aina presented a letter from the rapper expressing his remorse. In the letter, Clarke-Samuel acknowledged that there were no number of apologies that could ease the pain felt by Tamang's family and friends. He also mentioned feeling extreme guilt and shame for the suffering he had caused.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC described the CCTV footage as showing a 'quite appalling litany of incidents' leading up to the fatal collision, which he deemed 'simply shocking'. The judge also disqualified Clarke-Samuel from driving for 17 years. Following the sentencing, Tamang's family expressed their relief that Clarke-Samuel pleaded guilty and was jailed but stated they could never forgive him for what he had done.