Seven men convicted of homicide

Seven men have been convicted of homicide, four of murder and three of manslaughter, following a five month trial at the Old Bailey which was prosecuted by Brian O’Neill KC and Sarah Przybylska.

On the evening of Thursday 9^th February 2023 a young man named Kai McGinley was shot to death in a residential road in Erith, south-east London.  It was a planned and targeted execution which was undoubtedly drugs related.

Kai and two friends were travelling in a white Mini Countryman.  Their vehicle was being sought by the defendants who were travelling in two other vehicles.  At about 20:45hrs, the Mini was travelling northeastward along Pembroke Road.  A silver Land Rover Freelander was travelling in the opposite direction being followed by, and in convoy with, a grey Peugeot 307.

The Land Rover was driven towards the Mini, head-on, with its lights off.  In an attempt to let the oncoming Land Rover pass, the Mini began to move to the left-hand side of the road but it was struck, deliberately, at speed and with force, by the Land Rover.  The Mini spun to the right before coming to a stop.

The three occupants of the Peugeot got out, approached the Mini and opened fire.  Four or five shots were fired from two shotguns at close range one of which fatally wounded Kai McGinley.

The Land Rover broke down as a result of ramming the Mini.  Its four occupants fled on foot before being picked up by the Peugeot and driven away.

At trial, five of the seven defendants denied presence or participation: the other two accepted being in the Land Rover but denied knowing what was going to happen.  After more than 100 hours of deliberation by the jury, at the end of a trial which lasted 89 days, all were convicted.  They will be sentenced next month.

Counsel were instructed by Catherine Gould of the CPS London Homicide Team.