A drug dealer was shot in the face at his home whe
A drug dealer was shot in the face at his home when a turf war exploded in North Kensington, an inquest heard.
Wayne Thomas, 37, was blasted with a shotgun at close range as rival crack traders went to war, Westminster Coroner’s Court was told.
Detectives from Yardie-busting Operation Trident
believe the former hairdresser, with the street name ‘Barber’ was selling the drug from his home in Homefield House, Hazelwood Crescent.
Armed officers were called to his home on August 19 last year when a female neighbour discovered Mr Thomas’s body.
Mr Thomas, from Spanish Town, Jamaica, was later identified by fingerprint records held on data base at Scotland Yard.
A post mortem revealed he had suffered wounds to the face caused by a shotgun blast at close range.
Det Inspector Michael Murfin from Operation Trident said Mr Thomas was a regular user of crack cocaine who let local prostitutes use his home to smoke the drug.
Mr Murfin said: ‘Unfortunately Barber was prepared to sell crack cocaine from his premises which would have caused upset among other members of the community among whom that was their own business.
‘It would have trodden on their toes if Mr Thomas had set up business on his premises.
‘
The detective said several local drug dealers had been questioned by murder squad officers.
‘Without exception all of those arrested chose to make no comment in interview.
‘
Mr Murfin added: ‘We have no forensic evidence to tie these individuals to the flat on the night in question.
‘
He said the enquiries are still continuing nearly a year after the murder.
Verdict: Unlawful killing.
ends
