A 24-year-old man was blasted to death with a shotgun after a deliberate crash in Erith, a trial was told. 

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

On Wednesday (January 17), prosecutor Brian O’Neill KC opened the trial of seven men who are accused of murdering Kai and attempting to murder two of his friends. 

Mr O'Neill told the jury: “A young man named Kai McGinley was shot death on a residential road in Erith, south east London. 

“It was a planned and targeted execution which was almost certainly drugs related.” 

'Four or five shots'

Prosecutor Mr O’Neill told an Old Bailey jury that Kai was with his friends, Bill Burton and Norman Samura in a stolen white Mini Countryman which had false plates.

At around 8.45pm they were travelling along Pembroke Road, when a silver Land Rover Freelander drove at them in the opposite direction with its lights off. 

Close behind the Land Rover was a grey Peugeot 307. 

Mr O'Neill said: "As it got closer, it became clear to the occupants of the Mini that the Land Rover was driving towards it, head-on, with its lights off.

"In an attempt to let the oncoming Land Rover pass, Kai began to move the Mini to the left hand-side of the road but it was struck, deliberately, at speed and with force, by the Land Rover." 

The Mini span to the right before coming to a stop. 

This Is Local London: The scene on Pembrooke Road, where Kai was shot deadThe scene on Pembrooke Road, where Kai was shot dead (Image: Berk Uyal)

“Some or all of the occupants of the Peugeot and the Land Rover got out of their vehicles, approached the Mini and opened fire,” Mr O’Neill alleged. 

“Four or five shots were fired from two shotguns at close range one of which fatally wounded Kai McGinley. They then fled the scene. The Land Rover broke down further down the road."

Emergency services were called but Kai was pronounced dead at 9.31pm, with the cause of death given as a gunshot wound to his chest. 

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.