Jurors chosen for ‘Murder in the Woods’ trial

Potential jurors have been selected to try five alleged killers accused of carrying out the ‘brutal execution’ of a radio DJ who was found buried in Essex woodland.

The body of Koray Alpergin, 43, was discovered near the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate in Loughton last 15 October.

Mr Alpergin was the owner of Turkish radio station Bizim FM and had connections with celebrities such as rapper P Diddy and internet sensation ‘Salt Bae’.

Steffan Gordon, 34, Tejean Kennedy, 33, Samuel Owusu-Opuku, 35, Junior Kettle, 32, and Ali Kavak, 26, deny murder between 13 and 16 October 2022.

Judge Sarah Whitehouse told 27 potential jurors they will be reduced to panel of 14 – 12 with two reserves – who will hear the prosecution opening at the Old Bailey tomorrow.

‘Ultimately 12 of 27 of you will end up sitting on this trial until November,’ she said.

Mr Alpergin and his friend Gozde Dalbudak were returning to Mr Alpergin’s home in Enfield on 13 October where they were attacked, bundled into a van and taken to a location against their will, it is said.

The DJ was murdered and two days later his naked body was found by members of the public in a woodland area in Loughton.

He had sustained burns, bruises and cuts.

A post mortem gave a preliminary cause of death as strangulation, blunt forced trauma and damage to the internal organs and ribs, it was said.

Kennedy, Owusu-Opuku, Kettle and Kavak also deny kidnap of Mr Apergin Ms Dalbudak on 13 October 2022.

They, along with Gordon, also deny false imprisonment of the same victims.

Owusu-Opuku, Kavak and Erdogan Ulcay, 56, deny perverting the course of justice by assisting with the disposal of Mr Alpergin’s body and the destruction by fire of a Fiat Diablo van and Renault Megane.

A GoFundMe page, launched by Mr Alpergin’s family and friends, reads: ‘Koray was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. A much-loved member of his family, a special friend to all and a huge member of the community with the biggest heart.

‘Koray always thought of everyone, he was kind and caring and always supported those around him. He was such a light in the community, loved by his family, treasured by his friends and he lived his life to the fullest.’

Kennedy, of Cricklewood, Owusu-Opuku, of Tottenham, Kettle, of Islington, and Kavak, of De Tottenham, deny murder and two counts of kidnap and false imprisonment.

Gordon, of Dehavilland Close, Northolt, denies murder and two counts of false imprisonment.

Ulcay, of Oakeshott Avenue, Camden, Owusu-Opuku, and Kavak deny preventing the course of justice.