YouTube Video Sparks Feud Murder leading to Life Sentence for Gang Member
A man has been convicted of murder after a retrial for shooting a gang rival dead during a feud that was intensified by YouTube videos.
The convicted man, Courtney Ellis, was found guilty of the murder of Craig Small outside a chicken shop near London’s Wembley Stadium on July 5, 2019. Despite a previous acquittal, a second man, Aaron Youngsam, was acquitted of murder at the first trial in 2022.
Ellis, along with Christopher Kyei, was convicted of perverting the course of justice. Ellis is facing a mandatory life sentence.
Tensions between two gangs in north-west London were intensified in the summer of 2019 due to YouTube videos circulating claims and counter-claims.
The Church Road Soldiers from Willesden were in a long-standing feud with a gang from Wembley’s Stonebridge estate, also known as The Usual Suspects.
The trial at the Old Bailey revealed that Nines, a rapper and grime artist, was a key figure in the Church Road Soldiers. Nines and K-Koke, his arch-rival, exchanged insults in videos on YouTube.
These videos and the subsequent feud led to violence, with Mr. Small being shot dead in the midst of these tensions outside a fried chicken takeaway. The gunman also attempted to kill another gang member, but his gun jammed.
In this case, the prevalence of YouTube videos exacerbating gang violence was once again at the forefront.
In a statement from a YouTube spokesman, they emphasized their commitment to prohibiting videos that promote violence and abuse. They also work closely with organizations like the Metropolitan Police to address these issues.
