Two men convicted over gang shooting in Hackney

The defendants were remanded into custody to be sentenced at a later date

Two men have been convicted over a gang shooting in an east London nightclub, allegedly carried out by another man who died before he could stand trial.

The alleged gunman cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The victim, Brandon Malutshi, now 25, suffered gunshot wounds to both legs, but survived the August 2022 attack.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Shemiah Bell and Marcus Pottinger, both 31, were found guilty of wounding with intent.

The two defendants along with another man, 29-year-old Connel Bamgboye, were also found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Three other defendants were cleared of all the charges against them.

The shooting was said to have been sparked by a rivalry between gangs from Brixton Hill and the Wandsworth Road area - with which the victim was affiliated.

Firearm never recovered

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

The gun used 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 firearm was never recovered.

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.

The victim ran from the club, chased by the alleged gunman and Bell. Mr Malutshi was then shot at several more times, with a second bullet going through his right leg.

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

'67 gang'

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.

Bamgboye was also affiliated with the 67 gang and linked to the control of county lines drug-dealing, jurors heard. He has previous convictions and was himself the victim of a shooting in the past.

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