Rapper who murdered man as he got haircut in front of young son jailed for life

A rapper who stabbed a man in the neck as he sat in a barbershop chair with his young son nearby has been jailed for life.

Renai Belle, who goes by the alias Topz, uploaded a video to YouTube before the murder and referenced his desire to attack dad-of-two Josh McKay. Belle was then spotted on CCTV racing into the hairdressers in Leyton, East London and stabbing his victim with a large kitchen knife in July last year.

Belle, 30, had been on trial at the Old Bailey for five weeks, alongside Tenika Parker, 39, who drove Belle to the scene, and Daniel Cooper, 22, who provided a knife and balaclava for the attack.

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Parker and Cooper were both cleared of murder, but Belle was convicted by the jury. 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.

Today, Belle was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 28 years.

Prosecutor Louis Mably KC said Mr McKay had been having his hair cut at a barbers 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.

Me Malby said: "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 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 court was told a distressed child who witnessed the attack was upset and saying "that's my dad". Members of the public rushed to Mr McKay’s aid and attempted to provide medical treatment until the arrival of officers and paramedics. Despite their best efforts, he died from his injuries.

Officers painstakingly combed through more than 100 hours of CCTV footage to track Belle’s movements and understand what took place.

Parker was 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 going 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.

Following the conviction, 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.

"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.”