Gunmen's Target Hunted Down And Shot

Shot - Jahan Malik

Two armed men hunted down a rival on a St. Alban's housing estate – chasing and blasting the victim in a car park after the first shot missed - a jury were told yesterday.

A series of disputes over cannabis, money, damage to a vehicle and a nightclub confrontation resulted in the early-morning murder bid – captured on the estate's CCTV, Croydon Crown Court heard.

Andre Ryan, 22, of Belmont Court, Belmont Hill and Anthony Ajayi, 22, of Coningsby Bank have both pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Jahan Malik, 24, in Praetorian Court on June 5.

“The prosecution say these two defendants set out to fight Mr. Malik and went to the location armed and fully intending to carry out that plan,” explained prosecutor Miss Isabel Delamere.

“Ryan had a gun and Ajayi had a baton and a meat cleaver and it was their plan to use the gun and kill him.

“There was a history between the defendants and the victim, with minor slights and accusations going to and fro, that escalated beyond all reason and comprehension.

“They went to the address to settle these percieved scores.

“Ryan pulled the gun from his bag and fired at Mr. Malik.

“The first one missed, but the second hit him in the side with almost fatal consequences.”

In the momernts before the shooting, which took place at 10.30am in front of eye witnesses, Mr. Malik had a baseball bat in one hand and a dog on a lead in the other.

“When he was shot he had neither and was seen to run across the car park, chased by Ryan, and seen raising his hand in obvious surrender, posing no threat to this defendant.

“That is when he was shot at a seond time.”

Mr. Malik was rushed to hospital by air ambulance and recovered from his injury.

“He was well known to these defendants,” said Miss Delamere. “Two to three months before there had been some altercation in a St. Alban's nightclub, with one looking at another and talk of a fight.

“It is also said Mr. Malik angered Ryan by making him wait over the supply of some cannabis.”

Ryan previously attacked a van Mr. Malik was travelling in with a hammer while Ajayi held the door closed to prevent him escaping, but never paid for the damage he caused, the jury were told.

On the morning of the shooting Ajayi was “extremly angry and aggressive” while making an 8am visit to the home of a friend of Mr. Malik.

This resulted in Mr. Malik and that friend visiting Ajayi's address and banging on the front door while only the defendant's girlfriend was inside.

“There was also a heated argument with shouting and swearing between Mr. Malik and whoever was down the end of the phone, either Ryan or Ajayi,” added Miss Delamere.

Both defendants also plead not guilty to wounding Mr. Malik, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, and possessing a firearm - a .410 shotgun - with intent to endanger life.

They both also deny possessing a meat cleaver as an offensive weapon and Ryan alone denies possessing a baton as an offensive weapon.

Ryan has pleaded guilty to possessing a fiearm and ammunition while prohibited and Ajayi has admitted possessing the baton as an offensive weapon.

Trial continues.............