Mustafa Alhassan has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for fatally shooting young rapper Christopher Habiyakare during a violent home invasion in 2021.
The 24-year-old victim, who performed under the name Lyr1cure7, was targeted in his Sunshine North home in Melbourne over a rumoured $1 million stash.
Alhassan, masked and armed with a rifle, machete, and Taser, forced entry into the home with two accomplices on the night of August 24, 2021.
As Habiyakare answered the door, a struggle broke out, during which Alhassan shot him in the chest with a .22 calibre rifle.
The intruders fled the scene in a stolen car while Habiyakare collapsed from his injury; despite CPR attempts by a friend, he was pronounced dead by paramedics.
Alhassan pleaded guilty to homicide by firearm and handling stolen goods and was handed a 13-year sentence with a minimum of eight years before parole eligibility.
Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale questioned Alhassan’s remorse, despite character references describing him as quiet and non-violent.
Alhassan appeared emotionless during sentencing and was supported by his father and other family members in court.
His co-offenders, Daniel Sissal and Mohamed Mohamed, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to four and nine years in prison, respectively.
