DRUGS WAR TURNS FATAL
Lucrative trade in town worth killing for
Four men have been jailed for a total of 83 years after killing a rival amid a war for control of drug dealing in Maidstone.
As a court case came to an end, police revealed dramatic footage of armed police officers following a BMW after Wesley Adyinka was stabbed through the heart in Knightrider Street. The offenders were stopped in Bromley and could be seen holding their hands up as armed police pointed a gun at the car. The jury at Maidstone Crown Court were previously told the killing was a “cruel and deliberate retribution” committed during a battle over who controlled supply in Maidstone.
Kevin Roach, 40, of Peace Close, South Croydon; Alfie Caparn, 18, from Streatham, south London; Rodney Harris, 38, of Mann Close, Croydon; and Julian Grant, 28, of Tull Street, Mitcham had all denied murdering Wesley Adyinka February 9 and wounding his lover Amanda Francis.
Ruthless drugs boss, Kevin Roach, was jailed for life in his absence, after refusing to leave his cell.
But his chilling words were repeated in court after threatening to kill one of his own gang. Lawyers told how the murderer - who had killed without mercy - had told fellow defendant Julian Grant: “I am going to kill you in prison on CCTV and then write: “Guilty” on the walls in your blood.”
Judge Adele Williams told the barristers she would attempt to speak with officials at HMP Elmley.
Caparn, Harris and Grant sat in the dock in handcuffs to hear the jury’s verdicts.
The jury’s deliberations had taken 12 hours.
Earlier the judge had jailed Roach for life after he was convicted by a jury of the murder of Wesley Adyinka on the streets of Maidstone.
Roach had stabbed him through the heart “ruthlessly and without mercy”.
He and his three “county lines” drugs gang Grant, Alfie Caparn and Rodney Harris had come to the town looking for revenge.
A day earlier Caparn had been robbed of £,2000 of drugs - and Roach, 40, believed that Mr Adyinka was behind the attack. Grant, 28 - described as “intelligent, articulate and ruthless” had kept Mr Adyinka’s lover on the phone for 11 minutes while the rest of the gang tracked them down.
Then as Caparn ensured he couldn’t escape, Roach plunged the knife he had brought with him through the heart of his victim.
Mr Adyinka’s partner Amanda Francis told how they were due to move into a new home the day after his death. Earlier she had told of her desperate battle to save her boyfriend’s life.
Judge Williams had heard a statement made by Mr Adyinka’s mother Adebola, of her son’s battle with drugs.
The nurse told the judge she had been planning to attend his “wedding...not his funeral”. “This has broken me in every sense of the word,” she added. The judge ruled Roach will be jailed for life and is unable to even apply for parole before serving at least 27 years.
Grant was jailed for 20 years and Harris and Caparn for 18 years each. They were convicted of manslaughter and Roach, Harris and Grant were also convicted of wounding Ms Francis. Senior Investigating Officer, DI Annie Clayton said: “This murder was fuelled by a dispute over the supply of drugs in Maidstone.
“These four men had travelled to Kent seeking retribution, which resulted in the needless death of Mr Adyinka and the serious injury of a woman. “This has been a tragic incident and these men must now pay for their crimes with lengthy prison sentences. “Kent Police will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to gang and drug-related crime and we will work closely with the Metropolitan Police and other neighbouring forces to target known offenders.”