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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Josh Salisbury

Two men convicted over gang shooting in Hackney club

Three men have been convicted over a gang shooting in a nightclub in east London allegedly carried out by an attacker who died a month later.

Brandon Malutshi, now 25, suffered gunshot wounds to both legs and collapsed in the street, only to later discharge himself from hospital.

The firearm was never recovered and the alleged gunman, who cannot be identified, died before he could stand trial.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Shemiah Bell and Marcus Pottinger were found guilty of wounding with intent.

Bell, Pottinger and Connel Bamgboye were found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

The shooting was said to have been sparked by rivalry between the "67 gang" from Brixton Hill and the "17 gang" from the Wandsworth Road area with which the victim was affiliated.

The violence began inside Oval Space club in Hackney and spilled out into the street.

On the night of August 29 and 30 2022, the defendants and Mr Malutshi were said to have attended a party at the nightclub.

Another man was alleged to have been waiting nearby acting as a "getaway driver" in a hired Range Rover.

The gun used in the shooting was smuggled into the club in a bag by Pottinger, who had previously worked there and was able to avoid security checks, jurors were told.

The 24-year-old alleged gunman was said to be "moving mad" before he produced the weapon and shot at Mr Malutshi, causing panic in the club.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC said the bullet hit Mr Malutshi in the left leg and passed straight through.

The victim ran from the club, chased by the alleged gunman and Bell, who was known as "Bones" because of his necklace in the shape of a dog bone.

Mr Malutshi was shot at several more times, with a second bullet going through his right leg.

Bleeding from his injuries, Mr Malutshi collapsed and members of the public called emergency services.

He was taken to hospital but discharged himself later the same day against medical advice, Mr Khalil said.

In the defendants' police interviews, they either said nothing or accepted that they were there but denied having anything to do with the shootings, the court was told.

Jurors heard the alleged gunman was affiliated with the "67 gang" along with convicted drug dealer Bell.

Bell appeared in two "67 gang" music videos, one of which showed him making the sign of a gun with his hand.

Bamgboye was affiliated with the "67 gang" and linked to the control of county lines drug dealing, jurors heard.

Following the verdicts on Thursday, Bell, 31, Pottinger, 31, and Bamgboye, 29, were remanded into custody to be sentenced at a later date.

Three other defendants were cleared of all the charges against them.

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