Slowthai allegedly raped fan after concert, court told
On November 26th, Oxford Crown Court heard that rapper Slowthai, along with an accomplice, allegedly raped two women after a concert in Oxford back in 2021. The musician, whose real name is Tyron Kaymone Frampton, was first charged with this offence back in May 2023, but delays meant that the first hearing in the trial has only just occurred
After performing at The Bullingdon in Oxford on September 7th, 2021, Frampton and the co-accused, 27-year-old Alex Blake-Walker, attended a house party. It was at this party that the alleged offence occurred. For his part, Frampton and his accomplice have denied the three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault that they are currently standing trial for.
One of the complainants was described by the court as a “huge fan” of the rapper and was added to the VIP list at the Oxford concert after they encountered Frampton at a restaurant prior to the show. Prosecutor Heather Stangoe also revealed to the jury that the pair, along with a group of their friends, had then met up with Slowthai outside of his tour bus, before heading back to one of their houses for a party.
According to Stangoe, Frampton allegedly told the pair the two rules for the party, “no phones and no boys.” The jury heard that “Their sole purpose, the Crown say, in going to that house was to secure sexual gratification.”
The prosecution also added, “It mattered not to them whether the subjects of their attention consented or not. As it happened, the two women in this case did not, but that did not matter to these two defendants.”
At the party, Frampton and Blake-Walker allegedly “isolated” the complainants from their friends before sexually assaulting and raping them. The court also heard that the pair “high-fived, discussed ‘tag teams’ and contemplated swapping the girls” while the alleged offence was taking place. Upon being discovered by a friend of the woman, both the rapper and his co-accused fled from the party.
Slowthai’s response to the prosecutor’s opening statement
Patrick Gibbs KC, who is defending Frampton in the trial, has claimed that all events described by the prosecution were consensual and that the accused “met up with his fans in the usual way” following his concert in Oxford.
The defence also asked the jury to “keep an open mind” during the trial while also highlighting that the women were “intoxicated” at the time of the alleged offence. He also acknowledged Frampton’s powerful position as a famous rapper.
“The effect of celebrity, it may, and it will be for you to decide in due course whether people behave differently for all sorts of reasons when a figure from their screen steps off that screen,” he told the jury.
Blake-Walker’s defence, represented by Sheryl Nwosu, also denied all wrongdoing, arguing that “all sexual contact and acts were consensual.”
November 26th marked the first hearing of the trial, which is expected to last between two and three weeks. Following the charges levelled against Frampton, Slowthai was dropped from various festival line-ups and tours. His last music release was 2023’s Ugly, which came mere months before these allegations.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.