British rapper Slowthai, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, has been found not guilty of rape charges at Oxford Crown Court on Monday following allegations from a 2021 incident.
The 29-year-old musician and his co-defendant Alex Blake-Walker were both cleared of three joint counts of rape after 10 hours of jury deliberation. Blake-Walker was additionally acquitted of one count of sexual assault.
The charges stemmed from events following Frampton's performance at The Bullingdon venue in Oxford in September 2021, where the two men were accused of sexually assaulting two women at a house party after the show.
During the trial, Frampton maintained that all sexual activity was consensual. His defense lawyer, Patrick Gibbs KC, described him as a "thoughtful and modest" individual, challenging stereotypical perceptions of rap artists.
The rapper, who was supported throughout the proceedings by his wife, pop star Anne-Marie, broke down in tears as the verdict was announced. The announcement was met with audible gasps from those present in the public gallery.
Judge Ian Pringle had instructed the jury to approach their decision-making with objectivity, asking them to "lay aside any feelings of sympathy or dislike" and deliberate in a "calm and cool manner."
Following the charges in 2023, Frampton had been removed from several major festival lineups, including Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds. The artist, who released his album "Ugly" in 2023, declined to comment to the press while leaving the courthouse after the verdict.
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