Man sentenced for student stabbing and rap verse bragging

A man who stabbed a student, leaving him in critical condition, and subsequently boasted about it in a rap verse, has been sentenced. William Osaseri, 19, pursued and attacked the 20-year-old, stabbing him in the arm along a footpath off Midland Way in Radford, Nottingham, just before 18:00 BST on 27 June. The victim’s brachial artery was severed, leading to emergency surgery, a six-week coma, and a life-changing brain injury due to a lack of oxygen from the stab wound. He is now “unlikely” to return to studying. Nottinghamshire Police reported that Osaseri was told in court on Thursday that it was “pure luck” he was not being sentenced for murder. The force indicated that after reviewing CCTV footage, Osaseri, of Le May Avenue, Grove Park, London, was “quickly identified” as the person responsible for stabbing the student, who had been studying in Sheffield but is originally from Nottingham. Doctors informed police that the victim was fortunate to have survived. Officers searched Osaseri’s address and discovered cannabis, scales, and the knife used in the stabbing. Police stated that the reason for the attack was unclear, but added that Osaseri had connections to street gangs in London and was involved in drug dealing around university campuses. At Nottingham Crown Court, Osaseri was sentenced to eight years in a young offender institution, following his admissions of wounding with intent, theft from a person, possession of a knife in a public place, and possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply. Det Sgt Nigel Malik stated: “Due to a lack of oxygen caused by the stab wound, the victim now has a life-changing brain injury that continues to hold significant implications for both himself and his family – and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to return to university to resume his studies.” He further added, “He [Osaseri] has shown no remorse or concern for the victim. Indeed, he went on to write his own rap verse about the incident and bragged about it to associates.”