A gun used by drug dealers to shoot a rival pusher

A gun used by drug dealers to shoot a rival pusher was a ‘spray and pray’ weapon capable of firing 1,100 rounds a minute, a court heard today (Monday).

Marquis Onabodge, 33, met three alleged dealers at a Wembley hotel on April 15 this year in an attempt to buy cocaine, it is claimed.

But the meeting turned into a sting after Onabodge was shot three times and robbed of pnds stlg 11,000, jurors have heard.

Tariq Smith, 19, is alleged to have been part of the three-strong gang who lay in wait for the victim.

Forensic scientist and firearms expert, Ian Hendrix, told the court ammunition cases found at the scene were fired from the same weapon.

Old Bailey jurors were shown a replica of the gun allegedly used to shoot Mr Onabodge.

The weapon, a Mach Ten, sub-machine gun can fire more than 18 rounds in a second.

‘Fired on fully automatic it is particularly inaccurate because of its rate of fire,’ Mr Hendrix said.

‘It’s spray and pray – not an inaccurate description when it is on fully automatic.

‘Nothing I have found is inconsistent with the fact that one weapon was fired.

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Drugs expert Ian Griffin told the court he had compared cocaine found in Smith’s Ealing flat with that in the hotel room rented by the defendants.

He said: ‘My opinion is that there is moderately strong support for the proposition that the cocaine came from the same reported batch of packages.

Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, told the court Onabodge had gone to the Premier Hotel in Wembley on April 15 to meet Anthony Smith – known as ‘Ice’.

He had arranged to buy half a kilo of cocaine for pnds stlg 11,000.

But waiting in Ice’s room were two men – older brother Marlon Smith, known as ‘Ghost’ and Tariq Smith, it is claimed.

All three produced guns, and after a struggle, three bullets hit Onabodge as he tried to escape.

Smith, of Cumberland Road, Ealing, was arrested on July 3.

He denies conspiracy to rob, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and attempted murder.

The trial continues.

ends