Rappers jailed for pregnant girl murder plot

A teenage rapper who pushed a pregnant 15-year-old girl into a canal and grinned as he held her under the water was jailed for 18 years today.

Kingsley Ogundele hatched a plan to kill the teenager with his friend Brandon Jolie, who was given a 14-year sentence.

Jolie feared that the victim, who was his girlfriend, stood in the way of his burgeoning stardom on the "grime" music scene, the Old Bailey heard.

He and Ogundele, both 19, plotted the attempt to kill her during a "chilling" webchat in October last year.

The following month Jolie lured her by phone to an isolated spot beside the Regent's Canal in Islington, north London, where his friend was waiting.

Ogundele hit her over the head with a metal pole and, despite her cries of "Please don't, I'm pregnant", pushed her into the canal and held her under the water.

Her life was saved by a passer-by who chased off the attacker and pulled her out of the water. She later gave birth to a healthy boy.

Ogundele, of Romford, Essex, was convicted of conspiracy to murder by an Old Bailey jury and Jolie, of Bow, east London, earlier admitted the charge.