Rapper Unknown T cleared of killing man at New Year's Eve party

Drill rap star Unknown T has been cleared of killing a young man at a New Year's Eve party.

The 20-year-old - real name Daniel Lena - had been charged with the murder of engineering student Steven Narvaez-Jara, also 20, in the early hours of 1 January 2018.

Mr Narvaez-Jara was stabbed in the chest at a party in Old Street, north London, and died at the scene at about 3.30am.

Unknown T went on trial at the Old Bailey along with Ramani Boreland and Mohammed Musse, both 21, last month.

He had broken into the official pop charts with his hit Homerton B and been signed by Universal Music Group, but when he was charged and remanded in custody in July 2019 his career was put on hold.

Speaking during his trial, he told jurors he was "shocked and traumatised" by the violence he saw at the party.

But he denied being an attacker described as wearing a white sweater and glasses, saying that jumpers were not his style.

He could not produce the clothes he wore to the gathering, he said, because he is sent lots of garments because of his job.

The evening is said to have turned sour when Musse began "grabbing girls" and "annoying people".

In a subsequent brawl, guests grabbed kitchen knives, bottles and planks of wood and one had allegedly smuggled in a large machete.

The court heard that while Musse may have started the fight, he had either left or been dragged from the kitchen by the time the fatal blow was struck.

Another man, 18-year-old Israel Ogunsola, was also accused of involvement in the killing but died before the case came to trial.

Boreland was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 10 to two, and violent disorder, and Musse was convicted of violent disorder.

Mr Lena was found not guilty of murder and violent disorder.