A Mercedes driver has been cleared of helping a killer to escape following a gig at the Gallery nightclub in Maidstone by the rapper Mo Stack.

Murderer 17-year-old Vaselli Ofogeli had stabbed to death 21-year-old university student Andre Bent in the street after the gig, before fleeing the country via Stansted Airport in August 2019.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard how Ofogeli later returned from Spain and was jailed for life for the killing.

In May 2020, Ofogeli was told he would serve a minimum of 20 years, after being found guilty of murdering Mr Bent, two other attempted murders and another charge of wounding with intent.

This week Channing Hart, 29, of Ashford Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, has been found not guilty of assisting Ofogeli "believing or suspecting" him of murder by driving him to London following the attack.

Prosecutor Catherine Donnelly had alleged: "The Crown says Ofogeli had wreaked havoc and caused carnage and then Hart, knowing full well what he had done, drove him away intending to impede his arrest."

The jury heard that on August 18 last year, police went to Heathrow Airport after receiving intelligence that Hart was returning from Thailand after a gap of two years and arrested him.

Hart admitted a charge of violent disorder during the street violence. He was caught on CCTV punching and kicking during the showdown which was described by one eye-witness as a "royal ruckus."

He was jailed for 21 months for that offence.

Hart is one of 12 people who received sentences of between 21 months to two years following the brawl.

Mr Bent's girlfriend subsequently gave birth to their daughter, Neriah, who is now a year and a half.

Detective Superintendent Patrick Milford said: "It is now two-and-a-half years since Channing Hart, Vasilios Ofogeli and others travelled to Maidstone and brought a level of violence with them that ultimately resulted in a young man’s tragic death."

He said: "But no matter how much time has passed, the events of that night will never be forgotten by Andre Bent’s family and friends or those innocent members of the public who were caught up in the disturbance.

"Hart has proven himself to be a cowardly individual who kicks people when they are down, uses bottles and belts as weapons and who runs away to another country instead of facing up to the consequences of his actions.

"I hope this result sends a clear message to others that we at Kent Police simply do not tolerate such appalling acts of violence in our county, and that we are relentless in our pursuit of those responsible until they are arrested and brought before the courts."