26/06/2009

Man Guilty Of 'Bizarre' Carer Killing

A man who shot dead his brother's carer outside an east London nightclub in July 2008, in an attack that was deemed "as bizarre as it is brutal", has today been convicted of murder at The Old Bailey.

Andrew Denty, 30, of Waterloo, south-east London, shot 36-year-old care worker Curtis Smith with a machine gun last July as they left Club Red while people, including a Radio One DJ, partied inside.

He was also found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The court heard he resented his victim's commitment and dedication to his brother who had himself been paralysed in a shooting.

Curtis Smith was shot after helping Clifford into an adapted Mercedes car-van following a night out at the club in the Limehouse area in July 2008.

A second man was acquitted of perverting the course of justice. He is George Ogaba, 19, of Leontine Close, Peckham.

A third man, Emmanuel Okot, 25, of City Walk, Waterloo had previously pleaded guilty on 10 June 2009 to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The two men will be sentenced on the 17 July at the Old Bailey.

Denty's brother Clifford is paralysed from the neck downwards and has needed round the clock care for several years, the court heard.

Denty and Mr Smith, 36, were both employed by the same company which provides carers for disabled people.

Aftab Jafferjee QC, prosecuting, told jurors: "This case is as bizarre as it is brutal - bizarre in that one carer of a victim of gun crime is gunned down by the other carer.

"It is brutal in that Curtis Smith is effectively executed, shot in the back of his head by a Mac-10 machine gun."

He added Denty had "grown to despise" Mr Smith.

"He began to manifest his attitude in a number of ways, all of which had one thing in common - a demonstration of power over the deceased. There were cruel jibes and physical threats.

"But such was the sense of duty the deceased had for his paralysed patient that even though he had expressed his fears about what was being done to him by this defendant, he continued to look after Clifford."

Investigating officer Det Insp Daniel Smith of Trident, said: "Curtis's employment as carer to Denty's brother was to cost Curtis his life. Although Denty has never admitted to his crimes, it was the prosecution's case that Denty despised Curtis because he was jealous, very possibly of the relationship he had with his brother.

"This festering hostility resulted in Denty wanting to exert power and authority over Curtis, which came to a head outside Club Red on 27 July 2008. Curtis was brutally gunned down- shot in the back of the head by a MAC 10 machine gun."

(JM/BMcC)

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