A security guard accused of murdering London rapper Hypo at a party on the Jubilee weekend has been remanded in custody at the Old Bailey.
Laurie John-Phillip, 39, was working as a bouncer at Woodford Town football club on the night that 32-year-old Lamar Jackson died from a single stab wound to the chest.
The Old Bailey heard paramedics were called to the party, where around 400 people had gathered, after Mr Jackson collapsed just after midnight.
The victim, a well-known rapper whose tracks included Flex On My X, First Night and No L’s, had been a guest at the party and died at the scene.
John-Phillip appeared in court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
“The defendant is charged with one count of murder and one count of possession of a bladed article as a result of an incident which occurred in the early hours of June 3”, said prosecutor Serena Gates.
“The deceased received a single fatal stab wound to the chest which occurred at a party at just after midnight.
“The deceased was a guest at the party, and is a well-known individual in the local music scene.
“The defendant, Laurie John-Phillip, was working as a security guard at the venue on the night of the incident.”
Judge Mark Dennis QC remanded John-Phillip, from Enfield, into custody until a plea hearing on August 24. No date has been set yet for a trial.
Mr Jackson had previously dated singer Emeli Sandé for around a year before they split up in 2017.
His mother and cousin joined today’s court hearing remotely, listening to proceedings over a videolink.
John-Phillip has not yet entered pleas to the charges of murder and possessing a bladed article.
