Police confiscate nearly $50k from deceased estate of Melbourne rapper Christopher Habiyakare

Police suspect nearly $50,000 of cash, found mainly in slain Sunshine rapper Christopher Habiyakare’s bedroom, was obtained illegally, a court has heard.

Sunshine North shooting victim and musician Christopher Habiyakare.

Victoria Police has confiscated nearly $50,000 of cash found in the possession of a Melbourne rapper found dead more than three years ago.

Christopher Habiyakare, a musician who performed as LYR1CURE7, was killed in his Sunshine North home in 2021.

In what was thought to be a first for Victoria’s Magistrates’ Court jurisdiction, police applied at Melbourne on Tuesday for an “unexplained wealth restraining order” regarding $47,688, most of which was discovered in a safe in the slain artist’s bedroom in the days following his death.

A $4823 portion was found in Mr Habiyakare’s possession in March 2021, when police charged him with cannabis trafficking.

The court heard Mr Habiyakare was interviewed and made admissions to selling drugs at the time.

Christopher Habiyakare performed as LYR1CURE7.

Given his possible interest in the money as next of kin, Chris’s father Belthrand Habiyakare was notified of the application and the court date by police in December 2024, but he did not appear.

According to legislation, the confiscated money will be given up after six months if an application is not made within a certain time to halt the forfeiture.

Magistrate Nahrain Warda granted the application.

Emergency services found Christopher Habiyakare after being called to treat an injured man in Essex St on August 24, 2021, and he died at the scene.

His father later said he felt “broken” over the killing.