After Kai McGinley was shot by masked men who had rammed his car off the road, he turned to his friend and said “Bill, I’m in trouble”, a court was told. 

Kai McGinley, 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 who are accused of murdering Kai and attempting to murder two of his friends - Bill Burton and Norman Samura.

We are bringing live updates from court here.

He described it as “a planned and targeted execution which was almost certainly drugs related”.   

On Thursday morning (January 18) Mr O’Neill gave the jury a detailed account of what they say happened on that evening. 

‘Bill, I’m in trouble’ 

Mr O’Neill said: “Mr Burton, who was in the front passenger seat, said he remembers ducking down and hearing five loud bangs which sounded like they came from a shotgun. 

“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.” 

News Shopper: Pembroke RoadPembroke Road (Image: Berk Uyal)

‘I’m going to f**k you up’ 

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."

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.