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Michaela Sargeant tells court she can't remember pulling the trigger in fatal shooting of Kevin McKinley

A young mum accused of fatally shooting a father-of-three outside her Dartford home has told a jury she has no recollection of pulling the trigger.

Michaela Sargeant described how she was in a "state of shock" and feared for her family's safety when the shotgun fired twice in quick succession.

One of the shots struck 32-year-old Kevin McKinley in his left buttock and hip, severing a major artery, and he died two hours later as a result of blood loss.

A police car close to the spot where Kevin McKinley was shot in Dartford - where floral tributes were laid
A police car close to the spot where Kevin McKinley was shot in Dartford - where floral tributes were laid

Sargeant, who denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter, told a jury at Maidstone Crown Court she never had any intention of shooting Mr McKinley.

She maintained she did not know the semi-automatic, 12-bore shotgun was loaded when she “panicked” and picked it up outside her home in Overy Street on February 12.

She explained she jabbed an “angry and aggressive” Mr McKinley in the head with it but as they both turned away from each other she heard a “massive bang” followed by another shot.

The 25-year-old told the packed courtroom she only realised Mr McKinley had been struck when she heard him screaming.

Asked by her barrister Stephen Nelson how the trigger was pulled she said: "I can't explain how and why. But like I said I was in such a state of shock. I feared for my family's safety. I was shaking. I don't know."

Sargeant also told the jury she had not "intentionally or purposefully" pulled the trigger and maintained she could not remember doing so.

Louvain Road, Stone, where Kevin Mckinley lived
Louvain Road, Stone, where Kevin Mckinley lived

But she admitted she had “partly lied” during her 999 call and her initial interviews with police because of concern for her son, Louie, then aged six months.

“The thought of him being taken away, not just from me and from my family, and being adopted, I panicked,” she told the jury. “I had never been in trouble before. I was just scared and frightened as to what was going to happen.”

In the dock with the mum-of-one is her then partner, Lewis Wickenden, 26. He denies assisting an offender and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

The jury of seven men and five women heard the shooting occurred when Mr McKinley and Wickenden met in Merryweather Close at the rear of the property just before 8pm.

Mr McKinley was in fact walking away from the house when he was blasted with the shotgun.

Giving evidence Sargeant said she stood on a mound of earth in the garden and watched over the fence as the two men approached each other and both appeared to offer a handshake.

But she alleged Mr McKinley’s hand “turned into a fist” and he punched Wickenden before the pair started brawling.

She explained Wickenden had left the gun outside the patio doors before he met up with Mr McKinley. But she denied knowing it was loaded.

She then told how Wickenden staggered back through the gate, followed by Mr McKinley. She said her boyfriend had blood all over his face and was holding himself in pain.

Kevin Mckinley, who was shot dead in Dartford
Kevin Mckinley, who was shot dead in Dartford

“Kevin came straight through the gate after Lewis. At that point I could see he was angry, really aggressive, and it was going to carry on in the garden.”

Her voice trailed off as she continued: “Right next to where I was standing was the gun. I literally panicked and grabbed it and kind of hit him with it.”

The former Ford dealership service advisor maintained that she did not have any intention of shooting Mr McKinley.

“As I went to hit him with it he kind of walked into it and I shoved his head,” she explained. “I was just scared and basically told him to **** off and leave us alone.

“Straightaway he left. He went back out the gate, where he came from. He turned his back towards me to go.

“All I wanted to do was to check on Lewis to make sure he was all right. I turned and the next thing I knew I heard a massive bang and my whole body just shook.”

Sargeant said she heard the gun fire twice. “There was one first and then another straight after. They were literally one after the other.”

She told the court the gun was heavier than she expected and she held it with both hands but she could not explain where on the gun she was holding it.

Describing how she felt when it fired, she added: “It just shook me from head to toe. That’s when I knew it had struck Kev. He was screaming.”

"I can't explain how and why. But like I said I was in such a state of shock. I feared for my family's safety" - Michaela Sargeant

As questioning by her barrister continued, Sargeant said she accepted the gun had fired closer to Mr McKinley – about 2m away - than she recalled.

The court heard Wickenden later told police he had taken the single barrel shotgun without permission or knowledge from a friend’s house “for protection”.

Rumours were circulating that Wickenden had been robbed, and an incident in which he, Sargeant and their baby had been threatened by men wearing balaclavas and skiing goggles had been reported to the police.

The court heard Mr McKinley, who lived in Louvain Road, Stone, went to the couple’s house that evening wanting what was described as a “general chat” with Wickenden.

He was driven to the area by a mutual friend, Marley Booth. Also in the car, which parked in nearby Fulwich Road, was Mr McKinley’s son, now aged six. The youngster did not see the shooting.

The trial continues.

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