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Maidstone murder trial: Man stabbed in Knightrider Street in war over drug dealing in town, court told

A man was stabbed to death in a power battle about controlling illegal drug supplies in Maidstone, a court has heard.

Wesley Adyinka, 37, was murdered in Knightrider Street in a revenge attack, a jury has been told.

L-R Amanda Francis and Wesley Adyinka who were respectively stabbed and killed in Knightrider Street, Maidstone
L-R Amanda Francis and Wesley Adyinka who were respectively stabbed and killed in Knightrider Street, Maidstone

Prosecutor Richard Barraclough QC told Maidstone Crown Court: "This (case) is all to do with drug dealing, the expansion of drug dealing territories and the desire for power and control in Maidstone by London drug dealers."

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 have all denied murdering Mr Adyinka at midnight on February 9 this year and wounding Amanda Francis with intent.

The prosecutor has alleged that Roach stabbed Mr Adyinka in the heart before stabbing Francis in the thigh outside Chaucer House.

"The others were part and parcel of the attack by their involvement in arranging it and organising transport to Maidstone.

"They also enticed Mr Adyinka and Ms Francis to Chaucer House where he was murdered, waiting for the killers to leave Chaucer House after the murder and then all four driving back to their territory in the London area, " he alleged.

Police at the scene of the alleged murder Picture: Andy Jones
Police at the scene of the alleged murder Picture: Andy Jones

The jury heard that a day earlier on February 8 Caparn had been in one of the flats at Chaucer House when masked men had burst in before assaulting and robbing him of money and drugs.

Mr Barraclough added: "This, it seems, was a murder, at least in part, in revenge for that robbery.

"The gang believed that Mr Adyinka had been involved in setting up that robbery.

"By acting as they did the message would go out that they were not to be messed with and that they were taking over Maidstone," he claimed.

The court heard the murder was caught on CCTV and the jury will see footage of "the stabbing and the violent and gratuitous death of Mr Adyinka".

Officers in Knightrider Street looking for evidence after the alleged murder of Welsey Adyinka
Officers in Knightrider Street looking for evidence after the alleged murder of Welsey Adyinka

Mr Barraclough told how Roach came to Maidstone on February 7 before returning to Bromley in the evening.

"Roach, Harris, Grant and Caparn were in contact with one another during the evening.

"During the evening of the following day Caparn was assaulted and robbed of drugs or money by a number of masked and heavily armed men.

"Caparn was cut to the face during the attack which took place in Flat 4 Block A in Chaucer House.

"By February 9, Roach, Caparn, Harris and Grant had come (to Maidstone) to exact revenge.

Police at the scene in February

"It seems that they believed that Mr Adyinka at least was involved in Caparn's robbery, " he added.

The prosecutor said that CCTV footage inside and outside Chaucer House shows that before the murder, at 11.30pm on February 9, Roach, Caparn and two others went to the home of drug addict Liam Meggs.

"The assault on Meggs is recorded on CCTV showing the four entering the block where Meggs lived.

"Grant knocks at the door and kicks it. Roach goes in and Meggs says: '******* hell!'.

Chaucer House, Knightrider Street, in Maidstone Picture: Andy Jones
Chaucer House, Knightrider Street, in Maidstone Picture: Andy Jones

"Thumps can be heard and screaming. Someone says: 'Get up!'"

Mr Barraclough added that they then follow a woman to Block B where Mr Adyinka and Ms Francis, who was known as 'Pepper', lived.

"Roach can be heard to say: 'Knock these doors. Get away from the door... cos he's got acid and ammonia.'

"Grant can be heard to say: 'I got my moody trainers on... getting ready to get blood on them today,' " he claimed.

The trial continues.

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