Singer to appear on The Voice days after father of baby son stabbed to death

Loaded Sista, made up of Keisha Rodney and Salli Flaherty, performs
ITV
Alistair Foster24 January 2018
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A singer will appear on TV’s The Voice this weekend, just days after the father of her baby son was killed in an alleged knife attack.

Keisha Rodney, 34, is one half of group Loaded Sista with friend Salli Flaherty, and will be seen auditioning for judges will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson, Tom Jones and Olly Murs on the ITV show on Saturday.

Rodney’s former partner Daniel Frederick, 34, was stabbed to death near his home in Stoke Newington on January 8. A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police believe Mr Frederick was the “completely innocent victim” in a case of “mistaken identity”.

Daniel Frederick was stabbed to death in Stoke Newington
Metropolitan Police

Mr Frederick had just been at a hospital check-up for his pregnant partner, who he had started a relationship with after splitting from Rodney last year. Their son, Carter, is now aged one.

Rodney, from Enfield, said: “His sister called me to tell me he had been stabbed and was in hospital. My first thought was that he would survive — he was so strong.

"He passed away that night — it was the biggest shock. He was a good dad. The thing that distressed me the most was Carter — there would be a gaping hole in his life.

“We had our ups and downs, like most relationships, and in the end we just decided we would be better co-parenting Carter.

"There was no bitterness in the split. I have nothing bad to say about him — he gave me the amazing gift that is Carter.”

Rodney had written a song called Our London, which deals with violence in the capital, before his death.

She said: “It’s sad that it makes more sense now. I didn’t want it to be part of [his death], but it sends a really, really deep message now.”

Loaded Sista’s audition was filmed in October, months before Mr Frederick was killed. Rodney now intends to use The Voice to draw attention to youth violence.

She said: “We want to get into schools and teach the younger ones. We have already been working with a group called New Level Talent who work with youth groups in north London… people talk about this generation being the lost generation — they are not lost, they just need nurturing and focus.”

Rodney met her bandmate after posting an advert online. She said: “I was very convincing — I said, ‘We’re going to be famous.’ It kind of reminded me of Only Fools And Horses — I kept saying, ‘This time next year, we’ll be millionaires!’ She fell for that plan!”

Police appealed for witnesses to the attack on Mr Frederick to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734 or Tweet information to @MetCC.

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