More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A member of a rapper's entourage who appeared in court after a late-night brawl resulted in a man being stabbed to death has been refused bail after a legal challenge.
Mohamed Gelani, 23, was one of four London men arrested after the fracas in Maidstone High Street in the early hours of Sunday, in which student Andre Bent was killed.
Four other men were injured - three of which suffered stab wounds. Three were taken to a London hospital and one to a local facility, as of yesterday one had been discharged.
Gelani, as well as Yussef Abdi Aweys, 19, Darien Thompson-Cox, 21 and Nathaniel Small, 22, were then charged with violent disorder and appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
The court heard they were part of a group that came down to support their friend and rapper MoStack, real name Montell Daley, who was appearing at The Gallery nightclub that evening.
The quartet, all of Haringey, London, were accused of punching, kicking and stamping on a victim while he lay on the ground.
Aweys, Small and Thompson-Cox were all remanded in custody on Tuesday, while Gelani was initially granted bail after his solicitor Simon Holmes described him as a "hard-working, intelligent young man" who helped provide for his family.
However, the Crown Prosecution Service challenged the decision, which was discussed at another hearing today.
Philip Bennetts, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court that Gelani, who works at St Bart’s Hospital, London as a patients’ host, had been arrested and interviewed following the brawl.
“He did not give an account of what occurred,” Mr Bennetts said.
He told Judge David Griffith-Jones QC that Gelani’s co-defendants had all been remanded in custody.
He said two knives had been recovered from the scene and were being analysed. The knife used in the killing had not been found.
John FitzGerald, defending, asked the judge to grant Gelani bail. He said Gelani, 23, lived in Newland Road, Haringey and was of good character.
“He is the centre of his family and has four siblings who all live with their mother,” he told the court.
Residents in Maidstone fear for their safety after the incident
“He gained 13 GCSEs and a BTEC in business studies but was forced to leave university to support his family.”
Judge Griffith-Jones told the court: “This is a very serious incident which had very serious consequences.”
Bail was refused.
A 23-year-old man, also from London, was later arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and perverting the course of justice.
He has since been bailed until September 23.
Inquiries remain ongoing and anyone with information can call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting 25-0224.
