Third Megaman murder trial begins

Megaman, real name Dwayne Vincent, denies murder

So Solid Crew rapper Megaman has gone on trial at the old Bailey for murder for the third time.

Dwayne Vincent, 27, is accused of urging his friend to shoot Colin Scarlett, in a revenge attack in 2004.

Jurors were told due to "technical and administrative reasons", Mr Vincent, of west London, was being tried for murder for a third time. He denies the charge. Carl Morgan, 24, of Battersea, south London, was found guilty in 2005 of murdering Mr Scarlett, who was 24.

At the start of the trial on Monday, jurors were also asked to declare if they recalled details of the first two trials and whether they had strong views about music such as garage, hip-hop or rap.

Catastrophic injury

Jeremy Donne, QC prosecuting, told the court Mr Scarlett was shot four times outside his home in Tooting, south London, by Morgan.

Three of the shots caused "catastrophic" injury, he said.

There was a brief encounter before Morgan, with Vincent's encouragement and support, shot him dead Jeremy Donne, QC prosecuting

He said it was a case about "humiliation, or disrespect, fermenting a desire for revenge".

Earlier in the day Morgan had been beaten up by Mr Scarlett.

He was attacked in front of his former girlfriend, who was going out with Mr Scarlett.

The prosecution said he was left to "brood on how he might exact revenge on his tormentor".

Enlisting the help of Vincent and others Morgan armed himself with a pistol and ammunition.

"When they found Mr Scarlett, there was a brief encounter before Morgan, with Vincent's encouragement and support, shot him dead," Mr Donne said.

The case continues.