An execution target tried to dodge a bullet in a s

An execution target tried to dodge a bullet in a scene straight out of the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Matrix’ the Old Bailey heard.

Dennis McCarthy, 43, told how he was was shot by his childhood pal just moments after enjoying a Kentucky Fried Chicken meal together in his flat.

‘It was all in slow motion and I managed to bend my body around the path of the bullet like in the Matrix film,’ he said.

Would-be assassin Adrian Small, 33, was accompanied by his cousin Leson King, 31, also a friend of Mr McCarthy during the seemingly motiveless shooting, it was alleged.

Overweight Small, also known as ‘Fats’ or ‘Jelly’ because of his plumpness, appeared calm before suddenly screwing his face ‘like the devil was inside him’, the jury heard.

Mr McCarthy was pistol-whipped around the head repeatedly before being shot twice by Small.

His body swerve was in vain because the bullet missed his chest but passed though his stomach, said prosecutor Peter Finnigan.

‘It was only when King intervened that Small was prevented from firing an almost certain fatal head shot,’ said Mr Finnigan.

‘The wound to his abdomen astonishingly missed all his vital organs – he was very lucky to get away with his life.

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The court then heard how the pair drove their victim to a nearby hospital but warned: ‘You’d better get a gun because I haven’t finished with you yet’.

Small, of Ballater Road, Brixton, denies attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, affray, and several firearms offences.

His cousin King, of no fixed address, denies affray.

Mr Finnigan told how Mr McCarthy had known Small since his school days and got to know King when he arrived from Barbados in 1994.

The three were all friends and together used to travel to parties held across the country.

On August 5, last year, the cousins visited Mr McCarthy’s flat in Acacia Road, Mitcham bringing a Kentucky Fried Chicken meal for them to share.

From the witness box, Mr McCarthy told the court: ‘At first I was laughing and joking with King about a party we went to the previous evening.

‘Then from nowhere I was struck on the back of my head with what I later learned was a handgun.

I was baffled, I didn’t know what was going on or why.

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The court heard how Mr McCarthy was repeatedly beaten around the head with an Amadeo Rossi .

38 pistol before a warning shot cut through his clothing missing his flesh.

‘His face was screwed up like he had the devil inside him.

I asked what was going on and he began shaking the gun around and saying, ‘do you think I’m big enough to put two in you’.

‘His cousin was just sat there at the table with the KFC meal and told me to shut up – I was terrified.

‘I kept my eye on Small as he squeezed the trigger a second time.

‘But it hit me and I felt burning through my stomach.

I expected to fall down like they when people are shot in the movies but I stayed on my feet.

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King then told his cousin to stop just as he was lining up a third shot aimed at Mr McCarthy’s head, it was heard.

The two then bundled the wounded victim in one of Small’s rental cars and dropped him off at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, where he was treated for a wound to his abdomen.

‘As I got out the car, Small warned me to get myself a gun because he was going to finish me off,’ said Mr McCarthy.

The victim informed the police who arrested the pair 10 days later in an armed dawn raid.

Small was caught throwing the weapon out of his window as armed police swooped on his home in Ballater Road.

Mr Finnigan told the jury how two months earlier Mr McCarthy had secured a pnds stlg 7,000 loan from Abbey National using false details.

‘He handed this money to Small to, supposedly pay-off a contact within the bank.

Small then jetted off to Barbados.

‘There was some suggestion Mr McCarthy had bad-mouthed Small in connection with the transaction.

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The trial continues.

ends