So Solid star cleared of murder

Dwayne Vincent said he felt like a broken man after the trial

So Solid Crew rap musician Megaman has been cleared of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey.

Dwayne Vincent, 27, was accused of encouraging and supporting his friend Carl Morgan in shooting Colin Scarlett in a "revenge" attack in November 2004.

Mr Scarlett was shot four times outside his home in Tooting, south London, by Morgan, who he had beaten up earlier that day, the Old Bailey was told.

Mr Vincent, of Barons Court, west London, denied the charges.

Morgan, another member of the rap collective, was jailed for life last year after he was convicted of Mr Scarlett's murder.

I was an innocent man from the beginning - nothing has changed and nothing will ever change Megaman Megaman's controversial career

The jury in that original trial could not agree a verdict in the case of Megaman and a retrial was ordered.

That was halted earlier this year and a third trial was ordered.

After the verdict, Mr Vincent said he felt "like a broken man".

He added: "I have finally been released from a system which has been designed to keep people behind bars whether they are innocent or guilty.

"I was an innocent man from the beginning - nothing has changed and nothing will ever change."

Anti-gun campaigner

Jeremy Donne QC, prosecuting, told the court the issue was whether Mr Vincent was a party to the crime.

But Mr Vincent said the suggestion was ridiculous and he was a campaigner against gun crime.

Mr Donne told the jury 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, the court heard.

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 Mr Vincent and others Morgan armed himself with a pistol and ammunition and shot Mr Scarlett, the jury heard.