FRENCH RAPPER KOBA LAD SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER IN DEADLY ROAD CRASH

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Agency Report

French rapper Koba LaD has been sentenced to six years in prison for aggravated manslaughter following a fatal car crash that claimed the life of his close friend and stylist.

The 25-year-old artist, whose real name is Marcel Junior Loutarila, was behind the wheel of a luxury sports car when he slammed into a stationary truck at a petrol station in September 2024. His front-seat passenger, a longtime friend, was killed in the impact, while the victim’s girlfriend, seated in the back, sustained minor injuries.

A French court delivered the verdict on Wednesday, citing excessive speed and drug use as aggravating factors. Koba LaD tested positive for cannabis after the accident and has remained in custody since the crash.

In his testimony, the rapper admitted full responsibility, telling the court he was “at fault, from beginning to end,” and described the loss of his friend as “hard to live with.”

In addition to the prison sentence, the court revoked his driver’s licence and banned him from reapplying for 10 years. The victim’s family, through their lawyer, described the rapper as “a public danger on the road.”

Koba LaD has several previous convictions, including for a non-fatal road accident in Marseille in 2020. His name also surfaced in connection with the May 2024 prison convoy ambush that led to the escape of drug trafficker Mohamed Amra and the killing of two prison officers.

Though Koba LaD was questioned due to his childhood ties to Amra, his lawyers strongly denied any involvement, stating that the suspicion was based solely on his fame and associations.

The rapper, known for his platinum-selling records, rose to prominence in the French music scene but now faces a major setback with his conviction.

AFP