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Men sentenced following fatal nightclub shootings in 2010

September 21, 2012, 1:18 pm

Above: CCTV footage of Powell shooting Smith.

Above: CCTV of the unidentified man taking the firearm from the

A man who murdered two men outside a nightclub in east London in 2010 and the man who attempted to murder him in retaliation have both been jailed today, Friday 21 September.

Michael Smith, 28 (23.11.83) of Beaconsfield Road E16 had been found guilty at the Old Bailey on 8 August 2011 of the double murders of Patrick Ford and Eugene Brown outside the Sugar Lounge nightclub in Katherine Road E7 in 2010.

He was sentenced to life for both murders, to be severed concurrently and with a minimum of 34 years and was also sentenced to another 10 years concurrently for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Kevin Powell, 37 (1.9.75), of Larix Court, NW10 was found guilty at the Old Bailey On Tuesday 11 September of the attempted murder of Michael Smith and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He was sentenced to 34 years and 10 years respectively to be served concurrently.

A third man, Nana Oppong, of West Road, Stratford E15, was sentenced alongside Smith and Powell, to two years for perverting the course of justice.

Oppong had previously been tried and re-tried on the charges of the murder of Patrick Ford and Eugene Brown and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. In both trials the jury were unable to reach verdicts and following the re-trial this year the judge directed he be found not guilty on the three counts following there being no request for a further re-trial.

On Saturday 29 May 2010 police were called at 06:20hrs to reports of a shooting in Katherine Road, E7.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended the scene and two men were found suffering gunshot injuries.

Patrick Ford, 36 [6.1.74] of Tottenham N17 was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination later gave the cause of death as gunshot wound to the chest.

The second man, Eugene Brown, 27 [28.11.82] of Woodgrange Road E7 was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he later died on 7 July. A post-mortem examination on 8 July at gave cause of death as gunshot wound to the head.

Later on Saturday 29 May 2010 a third man, Michael Smith, presented himself at an east London hospital, also suffering gunshot injuries.

The murder was investigated by officers from Trident.

The court heard how Nana Oppong had arrived at the nightclub in the early hours to celebrate his 30th birthday. He pulled up at the venue in a vivid yellow Lamborghini, worth £200,000, before meeting with his friends.

During the night Eugene Brown fired four shots from a hand gun into the ceiling of the nightclub. This was caught on CCTV.

Partygoers quickly left the scene but Oppong was seen discussing the incident with his close associates that included Michael Smith.

Outside on the pavement Smith approached Eugene Brown and shot him in the head. As Brown collapsed to the ground Smith fired two more rounds and one shot struck Patrick Ford in the chest.

Smith then casually left the scene with Oppong, but an associate of Patrick Ford – Kevin Powell – chased them and fired his gun between nine and 14 times at Smith.

Despite being shot in the back, leg, chest and face Smith managed to flee and jumped through the window of a vehicle being controlled by Oppong.

Oppong and a friend abandoned Smith at the entrance of the Accident and Emergency department before speeding away in car that was recovered by police later that day at a valet car wash business in Bow.

Doctors battled to save Smith and following extensive surgery he survived and was subsequently charged with his part in the shootings.

Detective Sergeant Paul Considine, the investigating officer from Trident, said: “This was a complex case made all the more difficult by individuals misleading police and deliberately jeopardising the investigation. As paramedics and doctors battled to save lives, friends and associates of those involved went to great lengths to conceal weapons, discard evidence and falsify statements.”

“Despite this the team of officers worked tirelessly to piece together what happened that day. We were greatly assisted by CCTV from the venue and surrounding streets; the picture that emerged was a shocking one. It is an image of young men attending venues with loaded firearms having little or no regard for the lives of those around them.

“Here lethal weapons are being used as accessories to a night out. Sadly the combination of dangerous armed individuals that had consumed alcohol and drugs led to a frightening incident that resulted in two men losing their lives and another being seriously injured.

“We can only be thankful that the incident happened in the early hours of the morning otherwise many more innocent victims could have been caught up in this tragic and pointless incident.”

“I would like to personally extend my thanks to the witnesses who did come forward to help us because without the assistance of the community we could not bring these kinds of criminals to justice.”

Following the sentencings detectives from Trident are re-iterating appeals to identify a man caught on CCTV taking the firearm belonging to Eugene Brown and leaving the scene.

DS Considine added: “Despite the success of these convictions, there is one man still outstanding who we are keen to trace. As Eugene Brown lay injured on the ground his gun was taken and placed in an adjacent car.

“This man then took the gun and is seen on CCTV quite blatantly tucking it into his waistband and making off. We don’t know who he is and would appeal for anyone with information to come forward. I am hopeful today’s convictions will give anyone who can help the confidence to call police.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call Trident on 020 8733 4211 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.