Armani Mitchell found guilty of the murder of Birmingham rap artist

Armani Mitchell, 18, from Northfield in Birmingham, has been found guilty of murder after fatally stabbing a young rap musician outside a charity fundraising event in the city last September.

Today a jury at Birmingham Crown Court found him guilty, and the judge sentenced Mitchell to a minimum of 18 years in prison.

Mitchell knifed 18-year-old Joshua Ribera, who was known as Depzman, in the heart after the pair argued and fought over a girl they’d both dated.

Mitchell, also known as Mini-Switch, became angry with Ribera after seeing him laughing and joking at the party with the girl with whom he, Mitchell, had had a baby.

CCTV pictures from inside the club showed Mitchell noticing the girl with Joshua then turning round to follow them. Off camera the two men pushed and shoved each other.

Images from outside the club showed Joshua walking into the car park, followed by Mitchell and a friend. Seconds later a fight erupted, Mitchell produced a flick-knife and stabbed Ribera once in the heart. He died in hospital the next morning.

Armani Mitchell admitted stabbing Joshua Ribera but denied murder. Today a jury at Birmingham Crown Court found him guilty, after a three week trial.