Home / Crime and Justice / Rapper, Friend Cleared in Teen's Drive-By Murder
Rapper, Friend Cleared in Teen's Drive-By Murder
6 Nov
Summary
- Two men were acquitted of murder after four trials.
- A 17-year-old girl was fatally shot in a drive-by incident.
- The shooting occurred amid gang violence in north London.
Two men, including rapper Marcus La Croix, have been cleared of murdering Tanesha Melbourne-Blake, a 17-year-old girl, following four trials at the Old Bailey. Tanesha was fatally shot on the evening of April 2, 2018, in Tottenham, north London, while socializing with friends. The shooting occurred amidst escalating gang violence in the area.
Marcus La Croix, also known as Bobby Slater, was acquitted of murder and firearm possession charges after a retrial earlier this year. His co-accused, Michael Clarke, was formally acquitted on Friday after the prosecution offered no evidence. This marks the conclusion of proceedings that saw Tanesha's family endure four separate trials.
The court had heard that Tanesha was not associated with gangs and may have been an unintended victim. The fatal shooting occurred on Easter Monday, 2018, during a period of intense territorial rivalry between local gangs. A month after the incident, the firearm used was recovered nearby. Ballistics analysis confirmed it was the same weapon used in another fatal shooting in Walthamstow a month prior.
