Alleged 051 street gang hip hop video signalled bloody hit on KBS rival, court hears

An alleged street gang member was the “face” of a rap music video that signalled the start of a “war” on a rival gang and murder plot, a court has heard.

A hip hop music video linked with Adelaide’s 051 street gang has been used as a sinister warning of an alleged botched assassination attempt on a rival KBS member, a court has heard.

A 21-year-old alleged gang member, who appears as the face of that video, was denied bail in the Supreme Court on Tuesday amid concerns the defendant could interfere with witnesses or evidence in the ongoing investigation where other suspects were yet to be identified.

The young man is charged with conspiracy to murder over a shooting at Andrews Farm late last year, in which an innocent teen’s bedroom was fired at. A court later heard the accused, who called themselves ‘Hit Squad’ had got the wrong house.

One of the firearms seized during the investigation. Picture: SA Police

Police are investigating after shots were fired at an Andrews Farm home early this morning. Picture: 7NEWS

Justice Sandi McDonald reached her decision after hearing arguments from defence and prosecution, which put forward the video as evidence to establish motive on the part of the accused.

“The prosecution case is not of an impulsive decision to kill, but of a pre-planned, well-orchestrated shooting of someone in their own home, for which a warning was sent in advance by YouTube video that professed to be a declaration of war,” she said.

The rap music video released by 051 Records last October stars the defendant, who can be heard referring to a snitch and saying “got too many blicks and we ready for war”, with “blicks” understood to be slang for firearms.

The video, which been viewed more than 79,000 times, features court documents relating to a December 2020 assault of a KBS member and the intended target of the conspiracy and a screenshot from a 9 News bulletin relating to a murder trial that occurred in Adelaide and involved African gang members, Justice McDonald said.

A music video features shots of court documents relating to an alleged assault of a rival gang member in 2020.

The KBS member initially reported the 2020 assault to the police but later signed a document saying he did not want the charge to proceed because he feared tensions between the gangs would escalate.

Justice McDonald said the defence had previously argued limited weight should be placed on the YouTube video as “threats of violence are disturbingly common in rap music” and it fell “far way short” of demonstrating motive.

The young defendant, along with five co-accused – who cannot be identified – is accused of conspiring to murder the member of a rival street gang, a plan allegedly fuelled by increasing hostility between the 051 and KBS gangs.

The alleged 051 gang member is charged one with one of conspiracy to murder and trafficking in a commercial quantity of MDMA and was refused bail for both charges earlier this year.

The court heard prosecution alleged while the 21-year-old was not at the scene of the shooting, he played “a central role in conspiracy”, including through involvement in the planning of the attempted murder.

Justice McDonald said though the defendant’s criminal history is “not one of the worst to come before the courts”, there were a “troubling” eight prior convictions for breaching bail.

The court heard prosecution also held concerns for the alleged victim, the alleged intended victim and his family, the defendant’s own safety, and retaliation.

Mr Henchliffe, in his submission, argued concerns raised by the police and prosecution around potential interference with the investigation and gang retribution, “were speculative and without any factual foundation”, Justice McDonald said.

But in refusing the defendant bail, she said the risks were too grave.

The case will return to court next month.

Originally published as Alleged 051 street gang hip hop video signalled bloody hit on KBS rival, court hears