Masked men who shot Kai McGinley dead in Erith ‘had machete’

Kai, 24, was shot dead on Pembroke Road in Erith on the evening of February 9 last year.      

Prosecutor Brian O’Neill KC opened the trial of seven men accused of murdering Kai by telling the jury it was “a planned and targeted execution”. 

'Tried to chop him with a machete'

Bill Burton, who was with Kai in a Mini which was rammed off the road, described ducking down and hearing five loud bangs. 

Mr O’Neill said: “He saw three men wearing balaclavas and dark clothing on his passenger side.   

“The car was struck by shotgun pellets and the front passenger window was smashed.   

“One of the men put a shotgun through the window where he was sitting and struck him with it.  There was then another loud bang which came from that weapon and which shot Kai.  

“The three males then ran off and he heard a car pulling away.  Kai said, “Bill, I’m in trouble”.  Kai was holding the left side of his abdomen.  He got out of the car and collapsed.   

“Blood was coming from his mouth.  Mr Burton called for an ambulance then ran off and hid in a nearby alleyway.”  

Police on Pembroke Road (Image: Berk Uyal)Norman Samura, who was sitting in the back seat of the Mini, recalled seeing six to eight men in balaclavas surrounding their car, five or six on the left and two on the right.    

Mr O’Neill said: “He heard “I’m going to f**k you up” being shouted followed by a gunshot.  There were two men with shotguns, one on each side of the car, I’ve called them Male 1 and 5.  

“Male 1 struck Burton with the butt of a shotgun.  Male 2 had something long and black which he was swinging towards Mr Samura as he, Samura, tried to get out of the left side of the car.   

"Mr Samura dived through the broken window on the right side of the car in order to get out.  A male, we’ll call Male 6, tried to chop him with a machete and cut his hand.   

“As he was getting out, he heard a final shot which came from the weapon being held by Male 1: this, he believes, was the fourth shot and was the one that killed Kai.  The men ran off.   

“The vehicle he described as a Jeep tried to run him over as it drove off.  Samura also ran off." 

Kai McGinley (Image: Met Police)

'Nothing could be done to save Kai'

Kai McGinley, 24, was found collapsed on a driveway, not far from where the Mini came to a halt. 

Mr O'Neill said: "Kai was unresponsive and not breathing. Initial first aid was commenced." 

He said: "Despite the best efforts of all concerned there was simply nothing which could be done to save Kai’s life. 

"His life was pronounced extinct shortly after 9.30pm." 

We are bringing live updates from court here.

The doctor who carried out Kai's post-mortem said the muzzle of the shotgun was not in contact with him when the shot was fired. 

She gave the opinion that the muzzle of the gun was around four metres from Kai when the shot was fired. 

The same doctor examined the Mini. 

This led her to the conclusion that a minimum of four shots were fired - three hitting the vehicle and one hitting Kai. 

Mr O'Neill told the jury that a red plastic shotgun casing was recovered from the scene. 

He said DNA matching Bradlee Reeve's profile was found on it. 

Mr O'Neill also said Kai Osibodu's DNA profile was found on the Land Rover's airbag. 

His DNA profile was also found on a Lucozade bottle in the car. 

Meanwhile Connor Brooks fingerprints were found on the Land Rover. 

Seven south-east Londoners accused of murder   

Seven men are on trial accused jointly of murdering Kai and attempting to murder Mr Burton and Mr Samura.    

They are:    

• Enriko Spahui, 21, of Elmhurst in Belvdere     
• Jalees Selby-Gangera, 18, of Woodfield Close in Erith     
• Connor Brooks, 21, of Horsa Road in Erith     
• Bradlee Reeve, 34, of Chapman Road in Erith     
• Kai Osibodu, 24, of Riverdale Road in Erith     
• Charlie Brabon, 19, of Bryon Drive in Erith     
• Anthony Wallder, 21, of Eastry Road in Bexley    

Mr O’Neill alleged that Reeve, Spahiu and Wallder were in the Peugeot, while Osibodu, Brooks, Selby-Gangera and Brabon were in the Land Rover.    

All seven men deny the charges against them.    

The trial continues.