Drill artist Unknown T, real name Daniel Lena, 20, represented by David Spens QC, has been cleared of murder after a 5 week trial at the Old Bailey.
Student Steven Narvaez-Jara was stabbed to death at a party in Islington in the early hours of New Years Day in 2018. Unknown T's career took off in 2018 when he performed alongside Drake at the o2. A contract with Universal Music and an appearance at Wireless festival followed. His career was put on hold in July 2019 when he was charged with murder and taken into police custody. Mr Lena said he was 'shocked and traumatised' by the violence but denied being one of the attackers. The co defendants were convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder.
David succeeded in excluding the lyrics of Lena’s drill music from the trial with the assistance of reports from Professor Eithne Quinn of Manchester University, the UK’s foremost expert on rap music, with whom he has collaborated many times in the past.
David Spens QC was instructed by Ann Rushton of Traymans Solicitors.
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David Spens KC