Jury Informed of Gang Rival’s Fatal Shooting at Child’s 1st Birthday Party
Six alleged members of an east London gang are on trial for the murder of Kacey Boothe, 25, outside a child’s first birthday party in August 2022, according to the London Times.
LONDON—According to the prosecution, a rival gang member was fatally shot by a gunman outside a community centre in east London where a child’s first birthday party was being held.
At the Old Bailey, six men are currently on trial for the murder of Kacey Boothe, 25, who was shot dead on the evening of Aug. 13, 2022, in Walthamstow, north east London.
The shooting occurred near Peterhouse Community Centre while a children’s party was taking place.
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The defendants, Ka-Amni Brightly-Donaldson, 22, Jeffrey Gyimah, 20, Kammar Henry-Richards, 24, Kadeem Brightly-Barnes, 30, Roody Thomas, 25, and Joao Pateco-Te, 26, have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and conspiracy to murder.
All six defendants also deny possession of a firearm in August 2022. Mr. Gyimah, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Brightly-Donaldson additionally deny charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm and conspiracy to possess crack and heroin on Sep. 28, 2022.
According to prosecutor Anthony Orchard, KC, Kacey Boothe was associated with the London Fields gang, while the attackers belonged to the E9’ers gang based in nearby Homerton.
‘Carefully Orchestrated Attack’
Prosecutor Orchard stated, “The shooting was a well-planned and carefully orchestrated attack. It took place against a background of a series of violent incidents, including shootings, arising from the rivalry between two Hackney gangs, London Fields, with which Kacey Boothe and his friend Khalid Samanter associated, and the E9’ers—also known as Holly Street—with which these defendants associated.”
A child related to Mr. Samanter was celebrating a first birthday party at the community centre when Mr. Boothe was targeted right after leaving the party and getting into his car.
He was shot seven times and later died in the hospital after being taken there by a friend.
According to Mr. Orchard, the police believe that Mr. Samanter was the intended target of the shooting.
He added, “In the hours, days, and even months preceding Aug. 13, 2022, the two gangs had subjected each other to a series of violent incidents involving shootings and a stabbing. On at least one occasion, an entirely innocent member of the public had ended up becoming a victim.”
This innocent member of the public is identified as Abdirahman Jeylaani, who survived being shot while sitting in his own car in Shrubland Road, London Fields, 11 days before Mr. Boothe’s murder.
Victim’s Brother Shot by Same Gun in 2020
The prosecution revealed that the same gun used in the August 2022 shooting that killed Kacey Boothe had been fired on eight different occasions and also used to injure his older brother, Kyle Boothe, on Aug. 1, 2020.
“So, both brothers were shot by the same gun but two years apart,” stated Mr. Orchard to the jury.
“We suggest the three shootings in August 2022, and that on Aug. 1, 2020, are linked by either those involved, or those attacked, or a similar methodology,” he added.
Mr. Orchard also suggested that the defendants were well aware of how the police track and trace criminals in murder cases.
“They made efforts to conceal any traces of their involvement in each incident. Planning involved stealing higher-end motor vehicles, cloning stolen vehicles’ number plates, creating secret hiding places within their own vehicles for firearms and contraband, using petrol to clean firearms, turning off phones to avoid tracking, disposing of stolen vehicles after the attacks by cutting them up, attempting to leave no forensic trace or link to the shooting incidents,” Mr. Orchard stated.
The trial, which was delayed due to a shortage of dock officers, is expected to last up to eight weeks.
