Clapham bar at the centre of murder trial is forced to close

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

A Clapham bar has been told to close after a 24-year-old man was killed in a fight between about 20 people outside the venue.

Dirty Blonde Club in Wandsworth Road has had its licence temporarily suspended by Lambeth council following the incident in September, which resulted in the death of Dontae McLaren.

The venue will remain closed at least until later in October, when the council will make a decision on the longer-term future of the club.

Dynzell Patrick, 26, was charged with the murder of Mr McLaren on October 3. He is due to appear at the Central Criminal Court on December 23.

Tyanne Corbin, 25,  and Hamid Hamdi, 25, appeared at Central Criminal Court on October 14 charged with causing Mr McLaren grievous bodily harm with intent, and violent disorder. They are due to appear at Kingston Crown Court on November 6.

A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and causing grievous bodily harm is currently on bail.

The Met Police submitted a request to Lambeth council to suspend the club’s licence on October 1, two days after the incident. Police said they had ‘concerns’ that further violence could occur if the venue remained open, noting that the motive for the attack was ‘unclear’ and there was a potential risk of reprisals.

Documents submitted to the council by the Met added: “There have been concerns and previous reports raised by the local community about the club. Police currently have concerns about how this venue is being run, as knives have been spotted inside the venue despite being informed that there is a robust search regime in place and there is also a lack of CCTV.”

Officers were called to the outside of Premier Inn on Wandsworth Road, which is located next to the club, at around 4am on September 29 after receiving reports that around 20 people were fighting with knives.

Police believe the fight started inside the club, before continuing on the street outside the venue after the men were removed.

Mr McLaren lost his life at the scene of the incident, while another man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and a third with serious injuries. They have since been released from hospital.

The council held the licensing hearing at which the decision to suspend the club’s licence was made in private. According to minutes of the meeting, committee chair councillor David Robson justified the decision to sit in private by arguing that disclosure of certain information to the public could prejudice ongoing police investigations into the incident.

“The licensing authority was of the opinion that the public interest in excluding the public outweighed the public interest in this part of the hearing taking place in public,” minutes of the meeting note.

Another licensing meeting will take place on October 25, where a longer-term decision will be made about the future of Dirty Blonde Club.

Pictured top: Dirty Blonde Club in Clapham, which has had its licence suspended by Lambeth council (Picture: Google Street View)