Seven jailed for combined total of 150 years after ‘revenge slaying’

Seven men have have been jailed for a total of more than 150 years following a fatal shooting in Erith

The group was sentenced for the murder of Kai McGinley after detectives were able to piece together complicated CCTV evidence and place a number of them near the location of the offence.

Police believed the killing arose as retribution over a drugs deal that had gone wrong, describing it as ‘senseless.’

An investigation was launched after police were called at about 8.50pm on Thursday, February 9 last year following reports of shots fired in Pembroke Road, Erith.

Officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics attended and found 24-year-old Kai shot in the chest. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services who tried to save him, he died at the scene.

The jury heard that at around 8.45pm, Kai and two friends were driving along Pembroke Road in a Mini Countryman when a Land Rover and Peugeot travelling in the opposite direction came into view.

The Land Rover deliberately struck the Mini and it came off the road. The men in the Land Rover jumped out of the vehicle as it was severely damaged.

The men in the Peugeot then got out of the car and fired one or two shotguns at close range at the group in the Mini.

Kai was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other passengers in the car suffered minor injuries as they jumped from the car to get away from the attackers.

Through a detailed CCTV investigation, detectives were able to trace the men’s steps. It was revealed that following the murder the group hid in a garage belonging to Bradlee Reeve, one of those convicted, as they waited for a family member to come and get them.

Seven people were charged between March and September 2023, four of them were given life sentences after being convicted of murder and Section 18 GBH.

They were Bradlee Reeve, 34, of Chapman Road, Erith, who was given a minimum term of 33 years. Enriko Spahiu, 21, of Elmhurst, Belvedere got 29 years, Kai Osibodu, 25, of Riverdale Road, Erith had a minimum tariff of 30 years and Anthony Wallder, 21, received a 29-year minimum jail term.

Three others were convicted of manslaughter. Jalees Selby-Gangera, 19, of Woodfield Close, Erith was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years. Connor Brooks, 22, of Horsa Road, Erith was given 12 years and Charlie Brabon, 19, of Byron Drive, Erith was sentenced to nine years.

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Payne, who leads one of the Met’s specialist major investigation teams, said: “The evidence gathered and presented during the trial left the jury in no doubt that these men were guilty of a sinister plan to kill Kai McGinley.

“We believe there was a dispute over a drugs deal and they decided the retribution for Kai should be death.

“It is extremely sad and senseless that Kai lost his life in this way. He was part of a close and loving family who miss him every day. Our thoughts and condolences remain with them as they try to piece their lives back together without him.”

Picture: Wikimedia Commons/James Cridland