Rapper jailed for murdering father in front of son in barber shop

A rapper who threatened a “charismatic” charity worker on video before murdering him in front of his young son in an east London barber shop has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years.

Renai Belle was driven by jealousy and rage when he stabbed his former friend Josh McKay in the neck in Leyton on 6 July 2024, the Old Bailey heard.

Before the fatal attack, Belle had threatened father-of-two Mr McKay, 33, in a rap video after the victim had refused to fund his career.

Following an Old Bailey trial, Belle, 30, of Edmonton, north London, was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife.

Belle’s former girlfriend Tenika Parker, 39, from Leytonstone, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and possession of a knife. The court heard she drove Belle to the scene of the attack.

Judge Lynn Tayton KC jailed the mother of three and primary school teacher for two years and three months.

A third defendant, Daniel Cooper, 22, from Leytonstone, provided a balaclava and knife for the attack. He pleaded guilty to possession of a blade and was jailed for 30 weeks on a previous occasion.

The court heard how Mr McKay had worked supporting young care leavers.

He had also helped Belle who later became angry at his refusal to pay for the production of a rap video.

On 6 July last year, Belle spotted Mr McKay going into Hollywood Cuts barber shop on Lea Bridge Road to get a hair cut with his son.

The defendant fetched a knife and a balaclava and Parker drove him back to the barber’s.

Prosecutor Lyndon Harris said: “He then entered Hollywood Cuts and attacked Mr McKay, stabbing him in the neck.

“A struggled ensued, part of which can be seen on the CCTV footage, and a melee spilled out into the street. Mr Belle exited first followed by Mr McKay.

“He then made his retreat and travelled back to Ms Parker’s address and a clean-up operation ensued.”

Mr McKay’s mother Bash Kehinde condemned the pair in the dock as she read out a victim impact statement.

Addressing Belle, she said: “You did not care that Josh was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, an uncle and a friend to many.

“You do not care that you were going to kill him in cold blood in front of his son and you did not care you broke his family into a million pieces.

“Belle, you saw Josh with his son and you knew his son would witness the murder of his father. There is a special place in hell for you.”

She told the court that Mr McKay had helped more than 50 young men and had taken in Belle after he was released from jail, giving him money, clothes and a place to stay when he was homeless.

Mitigating for Belle, defence barrister Graham Trembath KC said the killing was “a moment of utter madness”.

Although Belle had previous convictions for 55 offences, Mr Trembath said: “What happened in that barber shop was off the scale.”

Kirsty Brimelow KC said Parker had expressed “complete remorse” for what happened.