More than 20 years after the murder of American hip-hop musician Jam Master Jay, a jury in New York has found two men guilty. The public prosecutor’s office and several US media outlets reported this unanimously on Tuesday. The 40 and 59 year old convicts now have to expect long prison sentences.
Born in 1965, Jam Master Jay was a DJ for the legendary rap band Run-D.M.C. in the 80s. became world famous. His death puzzled investigators for decades.
The trial against the two defendants began in January. The men are accused of shooting the musician in a music studio in the New York borough of Queens in October 2002. The accused and the murdered man, whose real name was Jason Mizell, all came from the same area of New York and were friends. The musician was also the godfather of one of the men.
According to the prosecution, Jam Master Jay increasingly dealt cocaine as his musical success waned. When a dispute arose with the now convicted people over the distribution of the drug business, according to the public prosecutor’s office, they forged a murder plot against Jam Master Jay.
The death penalty had already been ruled out in advance of the trial. A third man is also accused, but the trial against him is scheduled to take place separately in 2026.
