'Chilling' YouTube rap video 'warned murder witnesses they would be shot'
The rap featured gunfire in the background
Suspects in a murder placed a "chilling" rap video on the internet to warn witnesses they could be shot if they talked to police, the Old Bailey heard today.
The three singers featured in the video were clearly intent on frightening people off from speaking to the police, said Oliver Glasgow, prosecuting.
The clip, featuring a backing track, a chorus sung by several people and a burst of gunfire, was played to the jury.
The court was told it had been placed on YouTube with links to MySpace and Facebook profiles. It followed the shooting in Ealing, west London, in November, last year, of Jason Johnson, 24.
Eight people, including the defendants, were arrested but were not prosecuted. The decision had nothing to do with the video, said Mr Glasgow.
Ishmael McLean, 22, of Greenford, Rowan Simon, 18, of Ealing, and Ryan Esprit, 18, of Hanwell, all west London, deny perverting the course of justice.
The three were arrested after police discovered the track in February, this year.
It featured McLean and Simon singing a verse each and Esprit singing enthusiastically in the chorus, which said: "My guns bang your guns jam... You're f****** with the wrong team."
Mr Glasgow added: "There are references to firearms and references of clear intent.
"These men must have been intent on frightening or intimidating anyone giving information to the police."
Simon had sung: "Me I just give the strap (gun) lovin' and I make it bust (fire). 'Cos I can see the snakes hiding in the f****** grass and for a month now the spotlight's been on us."
McLean adds: Mention my name, I'll aim and squeeze off."
Rap artist McLean told officers he wrote his lyrics to "Wrong Team" but claimed it was only a gangster-rap.
Mr Glasgow said two of the defendant's friends had been placed in custody while the others had been bailed following the shooting.
He added: "Rather than wait for the police to conclude their enquiries they decided to take matters into their own hands.
"They wrote, recorded and released onto YouTube a rap music video in which they spoke of their hatred for the people who had spoken to the police.
"The video had but one purpose - to threaten any witness to this incident to frighten them to such an extent that they would refuse to co-operate with the police.
"They made it clear exactly what it was they wanted to do to them. Namely, kill them or to use their own words 'I can't wait for the snitch to drop, I still show up at his wake just to see him off'."
Metro
