Slowthai found not guilty of raping two women at Oxford house party

Slowthai, a British rapper who has received a Grammy nomination, was acquitted of charges of raping two women at a house party following his performance at the Bullingdon in Oxford in September 2021. His real name is Tyron Frampton.

Frampton, 29, was overcome with emotion at Oxford crown court on Monday when the jury acquitted him and his co-defendant, 27-year-old Alex Blake-Walker, of three joint rape charges following 10 hours of discussion. Additionally, Blake-Walker was found not guilty of a separate sexual assault charge.

Judge Pringle informed the court that the case had generated a lot of strong emotions.

Frampton's spouse, the pop artist Anne-Marie, let out a sigh as the decisions were announced. As they exited the courthouse, Frampton chose not to speak about the outcomes.

Frampton and Blake-Walker had earlier refuted all allegations, insisting that both women agreed to all forms of sexual encounter.

During her closing remarks last week, prosecutor Heather Stangoe urged the jury not to take on the role of amateur detectives like "Wagatha Christies." Instead, she emphasized that they should base their decision solely on the evidence presented in court. "This isn't a crime show or an American television drama; it's about actual people and real events," she stated.

In his defense of Frampton, Patrick Gibbs KC pointed out that there were numerous issues with the prosecution's argument. He portrayed his client as more than just the typical image of a rapper, describing him instead as a considerate and humble individual who engages passionately in life, sometimes without thinking about the consequences.

He informed the jury that regardless of whether Frampton is found not guilty, "he'll be ostracized indefinitely."

In her final statements for Blake-Walker, Sheryl Nwosu argued that the prosecution's evidence didn't align with Mr. Blake-Walker's actions that night and asserted that he thought the plaintiff was completely consenting.

Judge Pringle stated that the matter revolved around “consent” and emphasized that there is “no typical image of a rapist or a victim of rape.”

Stangoe mentioned that Frampton and Blake-Walker had encountered a group of women prior to the event and provided them with VIP tickets. He added that the women later joined him on the tour bus. After Frampton and Blake-Walker visited one of the women's homes, Stangoe stated that Frampton established two guidelines: “No phones and no boys.”

According to reports, Blake-Walker allegedly raped the first woman after being urged on by Frampton, who faced accusations of raping the second woman twice with Blake-Walker's encouragement. Additionally, Blake-Walker was also charged with sexually assaulting the second woman.

Stangoe mentioned that the women were “cut off from their friends” and were raped and sexually assaulted on the roof while the two men laughed, high-fived each other, talked about “tag teams,” and considered exchanging the women. She added that when the women’s friends figured out what was going on and stepped in, Frampton fled the scene.

Frampton informed the court that he had engaged in sexual relations with the second woman, asserting that she had agreed to it. He also mentioned that he and Blake-Walker had exchanged a fist bump, but denied that it was meant as a sign of support.

Following the two women's report to the police that evening, Frampton and Blake-Walker were taken into custody and questioned. The claims emerged in May 2023 when Frampton appeared in court in Oxfordshire via video link, facing two counts of rape.

The artist, known for their second album "Tyron," which topped the charts in 2021, was subsequently taken off the schedules for both the Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds festivals.