Trial for Attempted Murder Begins in London with Jury Informed Gunman Has Passed Away
Six men are being tried for attempted murder after the prosecution claimed that a gang conducted a targeted shooting at a nightclub in Hackney, east London.
Six people are on trial for attempted murder in a gang-related shooting, but it has been revealed that the alleged gunman has passed away.
During the opening of the case at the Old Bailey, prosecutor Karim Khalil, KC, stated that the shooting was the result of a long-standing feud between the “67 gang” from Brixton Hill and their rivals, the “17 gang” from the Wandsworth Road area.
According to Khalil, the shooting took place at the Oval Space nightclub in Hackney, east London, on the night of Aug. 29 and the early hours of Aug. 30 last year, resulting in Brandon Malutshi, an affiliate of the 17 gang, being shot and wounded. However, the individual who was believed to be the gunman is now deceased.
As a result, six other men are currently on trial accused of taking part in a joint enterprise with the shooter.
These men, Shemiah Bell, 31, Marcus Pottinger, 31, Connel Bamgboye, 29, Simeon Glasgow, 30, Carl Tagoe, 29, and Hamza Abdi, 24, have all pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. They are also charged with wounding with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, with Abdi also accused of assisting an offender.
Khalil further stated that five of the defendants were present at the nightclub on the night of the shooting, while Abdi acted as the “getaway driver.”
He went on to describe the events of the shooting, explaining that the victim was chased by the gunman and attacked with a handgun, resulting in the victim being taken to the hospital.
The trial is expected to last until February.
PA Media contributed to this report.
