[Red Moon]

Rachel wept for 'killer brother

THE brother of X Factor star Rachel Hylton is awaiting trial for a knife murder, The Sun can reveal.

Rachel, who broke down in tears on TV last week, is in turmoil after brother Khyrie, 17, was accused of stabbing an alleged love rival while wearing a Scream mask.

He allegedly knifed student Yusufu Miiro 16 times in the head and chest outside a flat where the victim’s girlfriend lived.

Hylton — said to be her former boyfriend — is alleged to have been furious at their relationship.

Rachel, 26, has been interviewed by police attempting to establish where her brother was when 20-year-old Yusufu was killed on July 10 this year.

On ITV’s X Factor last Saturday, the wannabe singer wept in front of presenter Dermot O’Leary. She was told by judge Cheryl Cole she seemed “really emotional”.

A family friend told The Sun: “The truth is that throughout the whole of the X Factor series Rachel has been trying to deal with her brother’s situation.

“She is very close to him and is incredibly upset that he has been charged with this awful crime.

“Frankly, it’s amazing that she has managed to cope with it all and not break down.”

Yusufu was murdered in Walthamstow, East London, as he went out for takeaway food.

He was studying criminology at Middlesex University and dreamed of becoming a detective.

Hylton went to police the following month. He was charged and remanded in custody.

Rachel, a mother-of-five, has had a troubled life. She ran away from home aged 12 and put herself into care.

By 13 she was a drug addict and a single mother.

Rachel went on to have four more children by different fathers.

Her three oldest children were taken into care because of her drug abuse.

When she was 18, Rachel was given 60 hours community service and 18 months probation for attacking a woman in the street.

Just four months later, she burgled a house and was locked up for 18 months.

On her release in 2002, Rachel went into rehab and kicked drugs.

She is now a devout Christian and lives in Stanmore, North West London, with her two youngest children.

The family friend said: “Rachel has got her life on track and is a very different person to what she used to be.

“That is why she is so upset about Khyrie being charged with murder.

Yusufu had come to Britain from Uganda in 2002 and lived in Leyton, East London, with his stepfather and two stepbrothers and sisters.

Stepdad Yusef Nsubuga paid an emotional tribute after the murder, saying: “My son was a good person. He was always a polite and obedient person. He never caused trouble with anyone.”

Relative Fatima Kabasinguzi said: “He never got into a fight. He was never involved in any gangs.

“If he ever saw trouble he would just run away from it. He was also a good student.”

The case has now been committed to the Old Bailey and the next hearing is due to take place on November 27.

Source: The Sun