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Court Hears How NHS Worker Was Killed In 'Petty But Fatal' Gang Attack

Court Hears How NHS Worker Was Killed In 'Petty But Fatal' Gang Attack

David Gomoh was an NHS employee with no gang affiliations, but a court heard he was knifed to death as part of a 'petty' gang rivalr

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

An NHS employee was brutally knifed to death by four gang members as part of a 'petty but fatal game of one-upmanship', the Old Bailey was told yesterday.

24-year-old David Gomoh worked in supply and procurement for the National Health Service before his death on April 26 2020.

He was killed as part of an alleged gang-related attack on Freemasons Road, in East London's Canning Town.

The marketing graduate managed to get to his feet and make it back to his house where he bled to death in front of his family.

Four men stand accused of his murder.

19-year-old David Ture, of no fixed abode, 22-year-old Vagnei Colubali, from Cambridge, 19-year-old Muhammad Jalloh, of no fixed address, and a 17-year-old boy from Telford are all currently standing trial in London.

David Gomoh.
Metropolitan Police

The jury was told on Friday that despite the fact that Gomoh has no links to gangs in the area, he was nonetheless chosen seemingly at random by the members of the Northside Newham Gang in order to send a 'message' to the Custom House and Beckton gangs.

All four of the people standing trial are thought to be or have been associated with the Northside Newham Gang.

The attack on Gomoh came after they allegedly targeted another male in the area, but that man - who has not been identified - managed to escape without injury.

Mr Gomoh was on the phone to his girlfriend right before he was attacked, the court heard.

Jurors heard that the woman heard someone say 'where are you from?' on the phone before the sound of a struggle.

Prosecuting, Oliver Glasgow QC said: "What had David Gomoh done to deserve such a fate? He had the misfortune to live in an area of London that is frequented by rival gangs.

"Rival gangs who are involved in a violent feud with each other, rival gangs who like to attack each other, and rival gangs who like to brag about the devastation they have wrought upon each other."

Mr Glasgow went on to say that the gang members didn't care about who they killed, only where they were from, meaning that this could not be classed as a case of mistaken identity.

He continued: "The first target who managed to escape may not realise how lucky he was but there can be no doubt that he would not have avoided serious injury - or worse - if he had not been so light on his feet."

The four defendants also face charges of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent with regards to the failed attack on the other man.

The trial continues at the Old Bailey.
PA

A post-mortem examination showed the brutality of the attack, with Mr Gomoh's carotid and brachial arteries severed, his liver cut through, and cuts as deep as 12.5cm slicing into his bone.

Mr Glasgow said: "The consequences of having a number of gangs who operate in a relatively confined area are not difficult to divine - rivalry, hatred, violence and death have all played their part in the ongoing dispute between these groups.

"And it was this ongoing feud that ultimately led to the brutal murder of David Gomoh, a young man who had nothing to do with this petty but fatal game of one-upmanship that is played out so often on the streets of London."

All four of the defendants deny murder and the second conspiracy charge.

The trial continues.

Featured Image Credit: Metropolitan Police

Topics: Police, UK News, crime, No-Article-Matching, London