A woman accused of killing Sydney hip-hop artist Scepaz (real name Jett McKee) following an alleged botched home invasion has been granted conditional bail in court today.
23-year-old Hannah Quinn appeared via video link in Newtown Local Court, charged with murder and accessory after the fact to murder, after the 30-year-old MC’s body was discovered on an inner-west street last Friday.
According to the ABC, she broke down in tears when the decision was read out.
Quinn is accused of crash-tackling the rapper after he allegedly broke into her Forest Lodge home. It’s alleged her boyfriend, 28-year-old Blake Davis, then stabbed him in the head with a Samurai sword before the couple fled the scene, leaving McKee to die in the middle of street.
During Quinn’s bail hearing, her defence lawyer said witnesses heard her yelling, “what the fuck have you done?” moments after her boyfriend allegedly attacked the rapper with the sword.
The attorney also argued that Quinn did not know it “was going to happen” and “was a 23-year-old girl, with no criminal history and was subject to a particularly unpleasant home invasion”, which had left her “traumatised, terrified and in a state of shock”.
The court also heard that Scepaz broke into the couple’s home shortly before his death on Friday and threatened them, saying: “You don’t want to get hurt, I will shoot you — there are a lot of people like me who will shoot you — give me your valuables.”
As the ABC reports, the rapper allegedly had a large gambling debt, which had been paid off by his parents, and left behind a pregnant girlfriend.
Police also discovered $21,000 in cash in the laneway near the Forest Lodge home where the crime allegedly took place, but it’s not yet known if or how that relates to the whole situation.
Following the alleged murder, Quinn spent three days on the run and was charged by police on Tuesday after she and her boyfriend both turned themselves in to Newtown Police.
In granting the defendant bail, the Magistrate said she was satisfied that the TAFE student did not “pose an unacceptable risk” considering “she had no previous criminal record” and was subject to “an unfortunate incident”.
Both accused killers are due to front court again in October.
Meanwhile, Triple j‘s Hau Latukefu has taken to Facebook to post a tribute to Scepaz, saying he “was saddened to hear the passing of Sydney artist”.
“I would see him at gigs, play his music on the show and he was always respectful. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one, especially at such a young age, so I’d like to wish strength & love to his family, crew and supporters. Blessings,” he said.
