Dave’s Mercury Prize win branded ‘disgusting’ by mother of teenager his brother killed

The mother of a teenager stabbed to death by rapper Dave’s brother has told Sky News it is “disgusting” that the star won the Mercury Prize for music featuring his sibling.

Dave, 21, whose full name is David Orobosa Omoregie, collected the prestigious award on Thursday evening for his number one debut album Psychodrama.

The Mercury Prize judges described the album as “the musical equivalent of a literary masterpiece” which would have “lasting relevance for a generation”.

The album ends with the track Drama, which features an audio track from Dave’s brother Christopher, who is currently in prison for the murder of 15-year-old Sofyen Ghailan at London’s Victoria station in 2010.

In the track, in which he praises his brother but not his brother’s crime, Dave raps: “I just hope you’re proud of me brother” and “You’re my hero”.

Dave also thanked his brother on stage while picking up the Mercury Prize and said the story of Psychodrama was inspired by therapy his sibling received.

Naima Ghailan, the mother of murder victim Sofyen, told Sky News that she thought it was “disgusting” Dave got an award for the song featuring her son’s killer.

She said: “In this sad society now, killers are seen as heroes. He [Christopher] will probably get an award too when he comes out of prison.”

She added: “Whatever I say isn’t going to change anything. I lost my son for ever, nothing will bring him back.”

Psychodrama begins with the rapper talking to a therapist, a motif carried throughout the record which also looks at a number of issues including racial inequality.

Some of the lyrics to the track Drama look at the impact of having a sibling going to prison and Dave’s love and anger for his brother.

He raps: “I remember when you got sentenced and I was throwing up / It’s like they took a piece of my freedom when I had opened up / I just lost the only f***ing person that I idolised.”

Asked about her thoughts on the track featuring her son’s killer, Ms Ghailan said: “As for the song, it’s disgusting how his brother is on that from prison and he [Dave] still got an award.

“The only people who listen to that crap are people under the influence of drugs and alcohol. No one in their right mind [would] listen to them sort of songs.”

Eight people were convicted for killing teenager Sofyen, who is sometimes referred to as Sofyen Belamoudden, during rush-hour at Victoria station on 25 March 2010.

Up to 15 people are thought to have stabbed him, hit him with weapons, kicked him and punched him to death.

Sofyen, who was described by his family as “not into gangs or guns” and wanted to become a pilot, had nine stab wounds to his body.

One of the knives used was found in then 16-year-old Christopher Omoregie’s bag.

During the sentencing, Christopher Moss QC said of Dave’s brother he was one of the “principals in the attack” which the judge described as “ferocious and merciless”.

Christopher Omoregie was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm in 2012. He was sentenced to a minimum term of 18 years.

Sky News has contacted Dave’s representatives for comment.

(c) Sky News 2019: Dave’s Mercury Prize win branded ‘disgusting’ by mother of teenager his brother killed