05 March 2024 , 15:15
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A gunman in a stolen 4x4 shot a teenager at point-blank range moments before the driver jumped out and knifed him in the chest, a court has heard.
Awadlh Saleh, 24, and Rio Burton-Devine, 25, are accused of murdering 18-year-old Abubakar Jah, who "was left to die" yards from his home. A court heard Mr Jah was gunned down after he walked towards the front passenger window of the Land Rover Discovery in Canning Town, east London.
Anthony Orchard KC, prosecuting, claimed Saleh and Burton-Devine were the occupants of the vehicle, which he said had been stolen. The lawyer added: "A shot was fired from within the vehicle, it struck Abubakar Jah in the chest. He fell backwards instantly onto the pavement and lay on his back.
"The shotgun had been within four feet of Abubakar Jah when fired, probably closer. Not content with having shot him with a shotgun, the driver of the Land Rover Discovery got out of the vehicle, leaving the handbrake off.
"He moved across to the prone Abubakar Jah and, appears to stab him twice in the chest area. He used a large knife. After the attack, the Land Rover Discovery was driven off. Abubakar Jah was left to die."
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Mr Jah, who was pronounced dead less than half an hour after the attack, had taken multiple shotgun pellets to his torso. A post-mortem examination revealed the shotgun entrance to the lower right chest caused injury to the right lung and damage to the heart and liver.
The shotgun pellets had also resulted in complete transection of the spinal cord, resulting in immediate paralysis of his lower limbs, following the alleged shooting on April 26, 2021. There was also damage to the lower part of the right lung and liver, causing significant blood loss and the collapse of the lung. The cause of death was given as shotgun and stab wounds to the chest.
The court heard the car was provided by Asad Sharif, 29, also alleged to have given Saleh and Burton-Devine a stolen motor for an incident four days prior also in Canning Town. On that occasion, it is alleged Saleh tried to kill Esmond Addai, 21, with a shotgun. The shot had missed Mr Addai, ricocheted off the ground and hit a property after the gunman jumped out of the stolen Range Rover.
Both luxury motors involved in the two attacks were stolen to order and fitted with fake number plates, the Old Bailey heard. Ahmed Kassim, 31, Zyon Francis, 24, Marcel Burton, 20, and Makhil Osman, 24, are accused of assisting an offender after the murder of Mr Jah.
Regarding the alleged attack on Mr Addai, Mr Orchard said: "Whilst he stood there, a stolen black Range Rover pulled up near to him. There may have been a brief conversation, there was a loud bang.
"A shotgun was fired from within the Range Rover in the direction of Addai. It missed Addai but hit the ground floor window area of (a property on) Tree Road. The Range Rover was driven off west towards Prince Regent Lane.
"While it was making its escape, Mr Addai would return to his Ford Fiesta and then remain in the area. The prosecution case is Awadlh Saleh was the driver of the stolen black Range Rover and Mr Sharif provided the stolen vehicle knowing why it was required... Each shooting has the hallmark of being a planned attack.
Saleh, of Plaistow, east London, and Sharif, of Manor Park, east London, both deny murdering Mr Jah and attempting to murder Mr Addai. They both also deny two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, while Saleh alone denies possession of a bladed article.
Burton-Devine, from Ilford, east London, denies murdering Mr Jah and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Kassim, of Stratford, east London, Francis, from Plaistow, Burton, of Lambeth south London, and Osman, who lives in Stratford, all deny assisting an offender after the killing. The trial continues.