Eight-year sentence for US rapper

Hip-hop star Remy Ma has been sentenced to eight years in prison for shooting a woman outside a New York nightclub.

The 26-year-old Grammy nominee, whose real name is Remy Smith, was tearful as she heard the sentence handed down at New York state Supreme Court.

Ms Smith denied assault, insisting the shooting was an accident.

The jury heard Ms Smith had shot her friend outside the Manhattan venue in July 2007 because she thought the woman had stolen $3,000 (£1,495) from her.

She could have faced up to 25 years in prison. An appeal is planned, Associated Press reported.

Last month it was announced she was planning to marry her fiance, fellow rapper Papoose, in prison.

Remy Ma was nominated for a Grammy as part of the Terror Squad for the 2004 US hit single Lean Back.

She has also had solo success with songs like Conceited and Feels So Good, and earned the best female hip-hop artist award at 2005's BET Awards.

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