‘Ride out killer’ of Ahmed Deen Jah is drill rapper

Two alleged killers chased a man into an off-licence and stabbed him to death in a gang ‘ride out’ eight years ago, a court heard.

Ahmed Deen Jah, 24, was stabbed to death in BJ Wines In Freemasons Road, Custom House, on 2 April 2017.

Lekan Akinsoji and his school friend Sundjata Keita, both 27, deny murder.

Akinsoji is a drill rapper and goes by the street name ‘Cracky Blacks’, jurors heard.

The pair were associated with the North Newham gang while Mr Deen Jah was associated with the Custom House gang.

Akinsoji

Prosecutor Anthony Orchard, KC, said: ‘During the afternoon of Sunday 2 April 2017 Ahmed Deen Jah left his home address to walk the short distance to his local newsagent and off-licence, BJ Wines, at 23 Freemasons Road.

‘Whilst in that shop he bought a lighter.

‘As he did so, a stolen black Mercedes had just parked nearby. Two men, wearing all black clothing, balaclavas, and gloves, got out from the passenger side of that vehicle.

‘Ahmed Deen Jah left the shop, and walked down an alleyway next to it.

‘As he reached the far end of alleyway, he was seen and he saw the two men who had just emerged from the car.

‘Seconds later he ran back down the alleyway and into the shop he had just been. He was being chased by both men.

‘He ran back into BJ Wines. The taller of the two males entered the shop after Ahmed Deen Jah. The attacker was carrying a large knife.

‘There was a desperate struggle around the shop. Ahmed Deen Jah was unable to repel his attacker.

‘He fell to the ground and was stabbed in the heart. The time was 3.24pm. The stabber having achieved his aim, ran from the shop to the waiting getaway car.

‘The prosecution case is Mr Akinsoji was the stabber and Mr Keita the other attacker. The stabbing was captured on CCTV.’

Mr Orchard warned the jury that the CCTV footage of the attack is ‘graphic’.

He said: ’The London Ambulance service attended BJ Wines. Despite medical assistance, Ahmed Deen Jah was pronounced life extinct at the scene at 3.49pm on 2 April 2017.

‘It is the prosecution case that this killing was not a spontaneous act of violence, but an attack planned against a background of street violence between two East London gangs, North Newham, which was consisted of three smaller local gangs from the north of Newham Borough, and Custom House, which was in the South Newham area, and to which Ahmed Deen Jah was linked.

‘Those in the black Mercedes had been on a ‘Ride-Out – driving to an opposing gangs’ area looking for rival gang members, or perceived members, to attack.

‘Ahmed Deen Jah had been attacked in his local off-licence. He lived about 150 metres away from it. The off-licence, BJ Wines, is located in Freemasons Road, E16. Freemasons Road is in the heart of the Customs House area.’

The Mercedes vehicle was found burnt out later that night, the court heard.

Keita is known by the street name ‘SK’, the court heard.

Mr Orchard said: ‘There has been a long history of “tit for tat” gang violence in the London Borough of Newham.

‘To the south of the borough are the areas of Custom House and Beckton. These two areas spurned their own gangs who united to become known now as “Southside Newham”. In 2017 it was just the Custom House gang.

‘To the north of Newham are the Woodgrange, Chadd Green and Stratford areas, which also spurned their own gangs. Over time they became allies and are now known as “Northside Newham”.

‘There have been numerous “tit-for-tat” rideout attacks, where members of one gang, in a car or cars, drive to the area of an opposition gang and attack any opposition gang member, or perceived gang member, they can locate.

‘The randomness of choice of victim has often led to non-gang members being attacked.’

Akinsoji, of no fixed address, and Keita, of Wanstead, east London, deny murder.

The trial continues.