Slowthai trial: Jury retires to consider verdict
The trial has lasted more than two weeks
Jurors in the trial of Grammy-nominated rapper Slowthai have retired to consider their verdict after he and a friend were accused of raping two women after performing at a music venue in Oxford.
The musician, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, of Wellingborough Road, Northampton, and Alex Blake-Walker, of Wallbutton Road, south-east London, are on trial at Oxford Crown Court.
The pair deny three joint charges of rape against two women, while Blake-Walker also denies sexual assault.
Judge Ian Pringle KC summed up the case this morning after a two-and-a-half-week trial, before he asked jurors to retire and deliberate, saying “I’ll ask you to return verdicts where you are all agreed”.
Jurors heard during the trial that Frampton had performed at The Bullingdon music venue in Oxford on the evening of September 7, 2021.
Following the gig, the two complainants went to Frampton's tour bus before heading to their friend's house for a party - with Frampton and Blake-Walker joining the group.
Frampton, Blake-Walker, and the two complainants then went on to the roof of the property, where it is claimed that the rapes took place.
The prosecution alleges Blake-Walker raped the first complainant while being encouraged by Frampton, and that Frampton twice raped the second complainant while being encouraged by Blake-Walker.
Frampton and Blake-Walker agree that sexual activity took place with the complainants on the night of the alleged assaults, but say it was consensual.
During his evidence, Frampton accepted that he and Blake-Walker had "fist-bumped" at the time but denied this was encouraging each other.
Frampton has been supported throughout the trial by his wife, the singer Anne-Marie - who he was in a relationship with when the alleged attacks took place.
As the case was summed up, Anne-Marie was crying in court as the judge spoke about the couple’s child together.
The trial continues.