Sasha Skare, the Texas rapper, has been handed a 55-year prison. The sentence is for the tragic murder of Martell Derouen, Beyoncé’s cousin, in early 2021.

On August 30, Skare was sentenced to 55 years in prison. Initially, she had the opportunity to accept a plea deal for a 20-year prison term, but she declined.

During the trial, Skare argued that the fatal incident was the result of a heated argument. She said that it spiraled out of control, emphasizing she didn’t intend to kill Derouen.

However, the prosecution, led by Ashley Jones, refuted her claims. Ashley asserted that Skare knew precisely what she was doing.

According to Jones, Skare aggressively sought out Martell, confronted him, and then shot him, constituting a clear case of murder.

The Texas rapper, had been taken into custody on February 6, 2021, shortly after the shooting, facing a first-degree murder charge. Witnesses reported hearing a dispute followed by a gunshot, and surveillance footage placed Skare at the scene.

This wasn’t Skare’s first brush with the law. She had a prior fatal shooting incident in 2019 and was listed as Marshals’ Most Wanted. She was wanted for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon that same year.

Martell Derouen, who rapped under the name Kardone, had signed with Sony Music’s The Orchard label in 2019.

While Skare, on the other hand, had been active in the music industry since 2018, releasing her album titled “Hyer Quality, Vol. 1.” In April, she released a single produced by Derouen.

Despite being Beyoncé’s cousin, Derouen was known for his humility, as stated by Brian Mitchell a friend of his. According to him, Martell never exploited his connection to Beyoncé for personal gain.

“That’s not even something he would even mention to people. We’d just have to put [that information] in his bios because it’s just, it’s worthy to put it in there, but he doesn’t like stuff like that.” Said Mitchell.

In conclusion, Sasha Skare’s sentencing serves as a tragic chapter in the life of Martell Derouen, a talented artist who remained true to his roots despite his famous family ties.