Gangsters jailed over dancefloor shooting in Hackney

The dead gunman was a ‘core member’ of the 67 gang from Brixton Hill
Shemiah Bell, left, Marcus Pottinger and Connel Bamgboye
Metropolitan Police
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Three men have been jailed over a shooting in a nightclub allegedly carried out by a gangster who died a month later.

Brandon Malutshi, now 25, suffered gunshot wounds to both legs and collapsed in the street, only to later discharge himself from hospital.

The firearm was never recovered and the alleged gunman, who cannot be identified, died before he could stand trial.

He was described in court as a “core member” of the 67 gang from Brixton Hill, south London.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Shemiah Bell and Marcus Pottinger were found guilty of wounding with intent.

Bell, 32, Pottinger, 31, and Connel Bamgboye, 29, were found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

On Friday, Judge Simon Mayo KC sentenced Bell to 10 years in prison.

Pottinger was jailed for nine years and Bamgboye for five years and six months.

The court heard Bell and Bamgboye had been on licence at the time of the shooting, having both been jailed in July 2019 for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

The defendants had been under the influence of alcohol, drugs or nitrous oxide gas and exposed members of the public to the risk or death or serious injury, the judge said.

The Old Bailey (PA)
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The shooting was said to have been sparked by rivalry between the 67 mob and another called “17” from the Wandsworth Road area with which Malutshi was affiliated.

The violence which begin inside Oval Space club in Hackney, east London, and spilled out into the street, occurred around the time of the Notting Hill Carnival.

On the night of August 29 and 30 2022, the defendants and Malutshi were said to have attended a party at the nightclub.

Another man was alleged to have been waiting nearby, acting as a “getaway driver” in a hired Range Rover.

The gun used in the shooting was smuggled into the club in a bag by Pottinger, who had previously worked there and was able to avoid security checks, jurors were told.

The 24-year-old alleged gunman was said to be “moving mad” before he produced the weapon and shot at Mr Malutshi, causing panic in the club.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC had said the bullet hit Malutshi in the left leg and passed straight through.

The victim ran from the club, chased by the alleged gunman and Bell, who was known as “Bones” because of his necklace in the shape of a dog bone.

Mr Malutshi was shot at several more times, with a second bullet going through his right leg.

Bleeding from his injuries, Malutshi collapsed and members of the public called emergency services.

He was taken to hospital but discharged himself later the same day against medical advice, Mr Khalil said.

Even though the weapon was missing, a 3mm bullet fragment was lodged in the victim’s right buttock.

And remnants of three discharged bullets were recovered from the pavement at the scene, the court was told.

In the defendants’ interviews with Metropolitan Police officers, they either said nothing or accepted that they were there but denied having anything to do with the shootings, the court was told.

Bell appeared in two 67 gang music videos, one of which showed him making the sign of a gun with his hand.

Bamgboye was also affiliated with the 67 gang and linked to the control of county lines drug dealing, jurors heard.

Bamgboye, known by the street names C-Rose and Conz, was also involved in music production and associated with the alleged gunman, jurors heard.

He had previous convictions for affray and threatening words and behaviour and was himself the victim of a shooting in the past.

On July 23 2017, Bamgboye had been at an unlicensed music event in Romford with the alleged gunman and other 67 gang associates when a row erupted.

Bamgboye and another person were injured in a firearms incident and the alleged gunman was stabbed in the stomach.

All three were treated in hospital.

On August 20 2017, Bamgboye attended John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after being the victim of a shooting at a music event in the city.

Three co-defendants were cleared of all the charges against them.

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