David Moses Jassy, the Swedish hip-hop and rap artist known as Monopoly, has been sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in jail by a Los Angeles court for his role in the 2008 murder of a Hollywood jazz pianist.
An appeal by the rapper’s defence team to reduce the sentence to manslaughter was rejected by Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson. The Local reports that the murder verdict was handed down after an apparent case of road rage. The court ruled that the brutal nature of the killing, coupled with the inconsistencies in Jassy’s trial testimony, left authorities in no doubt as to the seriousness of the crime. The rapper’s self-defence claim was labelled by the court as phoney, and the Stockholm-based musician, who performs under the moniker of David Monopoly, was found guilty of charges of second degree murder.
The incident took place as Jassy was returning from a Sunset Strip nightclub when he and his girlfriend ran into pianist John Osnes, who himself had been walking home after visiting another local bar. According to the prosecution, Osnes banged on the rental SUV’s bonnet while Jassy was waiting at a pedestrian crossing. Jassy allegedly became so incensed by the actions of Osnes that he leapt from his hire vehicle and began punching the 55-year-old piano player. At one point, Osnes attempted to retrieve his glasses only to be kicked in the face by the rapper, who then proceeded to run over the injured man before fleeing the scene, leaving Osnes on the sidewalk fighting for life.
Jassy has filed an appeal against the conviction, which will see him separated from his 11-year son in Sweden until 2024 at the earliest.
Idiot. Lock him up.