Hi and welcome to this JK B'HAM Crime Report for VPN: REGIONAL NETWORKS:
The gunman who shot Birmingham rapper Remtrex in a packed nightclub before fleeing the country has been found guilty of attempted murder.
Shaquille Blake, 30, opened fire on Remtrex—real name Demehl Thomas—at MJ’s Bar and Grill in Wednesbury in the early hours of August 13, 2023. The bullet lodged in his spine, but no one in the club reported the shooting. Thomas later turned up injured at Walsall Manor Hospital but refused to cooperate with police.
Blake, of Kelsall Croft, Edgbaston, was captured on CCTV wearing a distinctive orange cap and jacket. As bouncers ushered him out of the club, he stamped on Thomas as he lay wounded on the floor.
After the shooting, Blake fled to Scotland, took a ferry to Northern Ireland, and then flew from Dublin to Dubai on August 17. He later returned to the UK unnoticed but was caught during a routine traffic stop in Birmingham on July 29, 2024, after giving police false details.
At Birmingham Crown Court, he denied attempted murder but was convicted following trial. He had previously admitted to lesser offences, including inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence—pleas rejected by prosecutors.
Prosecutor John O’Higgins told jurors: “This was not an accidental or reckless act. It was a deliberate shooting of a man intending to kill him or, at the very least, cause serious harm.”
Thomas recovered from the shooting and later referenced it in a song, dismissing fears he would be left unable to walk. He has since been jailed for leading a county lines drug operation, in a separate case concerning offences from three years ago.
Blake will be sentenced on February 13.
ACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and Sentencing
As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:
Pleading to a Lesser Crime
Defendants in criminal cases sometimes plead guilty to lesser offences in the hope of receiving a reduced sentence or avoiding a more serious conviction. This is known as a plea to a lesser included offence.
The justice system allows defendants to plead to lesser offences to ensure efficiency in the courts while maintaining fairness. Trials are costly and time-consuming, and in some cases, accepting a guilty plea to a lesser charge can still deliver justice without the need for a full trial. This process also encourages accountability, as it provides an incentive for defendants to admit wrongdoing rather than forcing victims and witnesses to testify. However, the system is structured to prevent misuse—prosecutors can reject a lesser plea if they believe the full charge is warranted, ensuring that serious offenders are held accountable for the true extent of their crimes.
For a plea to be accepted, it must be agreed upon by the prosecution, which will consider whether the lesser charge still reflects the gravity of the crime. In cases like attempted murder, a defendant might admit to grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent or firearms offences, but if prosecutors believe the original charge is justified, they can reject the plea and proceed to trial.
Courts assess intent, harm caused, and the circumstances of the crime when determining guilt. If a jury finds the defendant acted with clear intent to kill, they can convict on attempted murder, which carries a maximum life sentence.
In this case, Shaquille Blake admitted to GBH without intent and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, but prosecutors rejected his plea, arguing that the evidence pointed to an intent to kill or at least cause serious harm. The jury agreed, convicting him of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.
Jason King
Birmingham City-Desk
Twitter (X) @JasonKingNews
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