Seven men have have been jailed for a total of more than 150 years following a fatal shooting in Erith.

The group was sentenced for the murder of Kai McGinley after detectives were able to piece together complicated CCTV evidence and place a number of them near the location of the offence.

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Payne, who leads one of the Met’s specialist major investigation teams, said: “The evidence gathered and presented during the trial left the jury in no doubt that these men were guilty of a sinister plan to kill Kai McGinley.

“We believe there was a dispute over a drugs deal and they decided the retribution for Kai should be death.

“It is extremely sad and senseless that Kai lost his life in this way. He was part of a close and loving family who miss him every day. Our thoughts and condolences remain with them as they try to piece their lives back together without him.”

An investigation was launched after police were called at about 20:50hrs on Thursday, 9 February 2023 to reports of shots fired in Pembroke Road, Erith.

Officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics attended and found 24-year-old Kai shot in the chest. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services who tried to save him, he died at the scene.

The jury heard that around 20.45hrs, Kai and two friends were driving along Pembroke Road in a Mini Countryman when a Land Rover and Peugeot travelling in the opposite direction came into view.

The Land Rover deliberately struck the Mini and it came off the road. The men in the Land Rover jumped out of the vehicle as it was severely damaged.

The men in the Peugeot then got out of the car and fired one or two shotguns at close range at the group in the Mini.

Kai was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other passengers in the car suffered minor injuries as they jumped from the car to get away from the attackers.

Through a detailed CCTV investigation, detectives were able to trace the men's steps. It was revealed that following the murder the group hid in a garage belonging to Bradlee Reeve, one of those convicted, as they waited for a family member to come and get them.

Seven people were charged between March and September 2023. They were later convicted and sentenced as follows:

Bradlee Reeve, 34 (02.09.89), of Chapman Road, Erith was convicted of murder, and section 18 GBH and was sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 33 years.

Enriko Spahiu, 21 (03.09.02), of Elmhurst, Belvedere was convicted of murder and section 18 GBH. He was sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 29 years.

Kai Osibodu, 25 (16.06.99), of Riverdale Road, Erith was convicted of murder and section 18 GBH. Osibodu was sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 30 years.

Jalees Selby-Gangera, 19 (14.02.05), of Woodfield Close, Erith was convicted of manslaughter. Selby-Gangera was sentenced to nine and a half years.

Connor Brooks, 22 (17.03.02), of Horsa Road, Erith was convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years.

Charlie Brabon, 19 (08.11.04) of Byron Drive, Erith was convicted of manslaughter. Brabon was sentenced to nine years.

Anthony Wallder, 21 (24.10.2002) was convicted of murder and section 18 GBH. Wallder was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years.