THE stepson of Plumstead ex-gangster Dave Courtney was murdered by his uncle in a “planned and ruthless execution” over a family dispute, the Old Bailey heard today.

Genson Courtney, 23, was blasted once in the head with a handgun "at point-blank range" as he left his girlfriend's home in Banning Street, Greenwich, on July 3, 2011.

The bullet travelled through the cannabis dealer's left eye, leaving him dead at the scene while the gunman escaped using a getaway car waiting in nearby Christ Church Way, jurors heard.

His uncle David Pinto, aged 33, of Tyler Street, Greenwich, and alleged accomplice Robert Bleach, aged 45, of Halstow Road, Greenwich, both deny having anything to do with the killing.

Opening the case, prosecutor Jonathan Rees, said: "The shooting had the hallmarks of a planned and ruthless execution."

He explained: "The fortnight before the shooting there seems to have been, to use the vernacular, some beef."

The prosecutor said the victim had been looking to settle scores, adding: "The motive behind the killing was that David Pinto was concerned that Genson Courtney was after him and sought to eliminate the threat that he posed."

In the weeks before the killing, Mr Courtney, who claimed to be using steroids and building up his body to rob other drug dealers, had been involved in a number of arguments with members of his family, the court heard.

Mr Rees said: "It was clear to those who knew him that he was extremely agitated by what he viewed as the wrongs that had been done to him by family members in the past and that he wanted to set the record straight."

On June 22 he turned up at Dave Courtney's house, called Camelot, and argued with his stepfather. The pair then fought on nearby Plumstead Common where the older man was left "bloodied and battered".

Genson Courtney later returned to threaten his stepfather with a golf club but was stopped by his sister, the court heard.

Later that day he travelled to the home of his grandmother, known as Queen Bee, where there was a further argument, before heading to Pinto's home to demand £1,100 he claimed to be owed.

Finding his uncle not in, he demanded the money from Pinto's partner which, jurors were told, led to further animosity.

The court heard he also sent a number of angry texts to his uncle before his death. One read: "When you see me on the road, you don't see me from now on."

The trial continues.