On Thursday (Feb. 24), two days after the jury began its deliberations, the man charged in rapper Smoke Dawg’s murder in 2018, and his manager received notification. It decided the man’s fate in court.
Smoke Dawg’s Murderer Found Guilty
According to CBS News, on Thursday (Feb. 25), Abdulkadir Handule, aka Neat, is guilty of two counts of second-degree murder. In addition to aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm, the Ontario Superior Court ruled. The verdict was “deeply disappointing” to Handule’s lawyer Dirk Derstine, who wrote to the outlet.
“It’s been trying times in society the last two years,” Brian O’Marra said of the jury in his closing statement. “In my view, at times when society is under different types of stress, it’s more important than ever that the justice system still be able to operate as best it can. And you have been exemplary in your dedication to the task.”
The sentencing of Handule will take place on May 27. Almost four years after, he and two friends shot and killed Smoke Dawg outside a nightclub in Toronto. Since November, there’s been a continual postponement due to holidays and the pandemic.
Lawyer Claims Handule Didn’t Shoot Dawg
In closing statements, Dirk Derstine, his lawyer, attested that Handule was one of the shooters outside the Cube nightclub. According to Derstine, Handule did not target Smoke Dawg that night, contrary to the prosecution’s assertion.
“It’s true Abdulkadir raced after him (Smart) and was firing at him,” Derstine explained. “Probably intending him no good whatsoever, and yes, indeed, he shot him on the ground when he was down there. But, you’re not here, like Saint Peter at the Pearly gates, to decide whether or not he’s a good human being. You’re here exclusively to decide whether he is legally guilty of the various different offenses.”
He says the shooting wasn’t targeted but rather “something that began as an “adolescent, stupid, testosterone-laden … argument on the side of Queen Street.” Derstine argued the club’s bouncers regularly saw the violence of this nature. “These two young men said something stupid to each other, which precipitated something stupid and eventually tragic,” he said.
Ascending Career
Firstly, the career of Smoke Dawg began to flourish in 2015, following the release of his collaboration with Mo-G, “Still.” Secondly, the track has a view total of 5.6 million on YouTube and listened to 1.37 million times on SoundCloud. Thirdly, his song Trap House earned 5.6 million views on YouTube. However, it’s credited with inspiring French Montana to do a remix.
Drake was among many rappers who expressed their sorrow after his death. The 21-year-old lyricist even traveled with Drizzy for a portion of his Boy Meets World Tour.
