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Sasha Skare, the Texas woman accused of murdering Beyoncé’s cousin, was sentenced to 55 years in prison on Friday after a jury found her guilty of the crime. According to Revolt, the victim, Martell Derouen, was a rising rapper who went by the stage name Kardone.
Skare, 23, was convicted after she opted to not accept a plea deal that would have landed her a 20-year prison sentence. “The pain and agony you brought upon my family is unbearable. Fix your sheets, if you have any, because you’ve made your bed, and now it’s time for you to lay in it,” Martell’s sister, Kami Derouen, told Skare in her victim impact statement, KSAT reported.
The deceased rapper’s estranged wife, Joia Derouen, also expressed regret over his death during the trial. “I do have some type of hurt in my heart because I feel like if [Martell and I] would have never broken up, this would have never happened,” Joia said.
Skare originally told the court that she and Kardone had a physical dispute on January 22, 2021, at his San Antonio apartment. She claimed the deceased rapper struck and choked her several times before she was able to exit his home with a phone and a weapon. During the trial, text messages submitted to the court revealed that Kardone begged Skare to return the gun and come get her belongings.
Skare claimed the revolver discharged when she returned to his house and knocked on his door. According to Revolt, the deceased rapper was shot in the head.Four days later, during a welfare check, police discovered his body.
“My intent was just to get his attention,” Skare testified. “As I was knocking on the door, I just threw the gun up, and it just shot.”
