Acid attack murder accused 'was never in Plymouth'

A man on trial for murder said he was "shocked and appalled" after he heard sulphuric acid had been used in a fatal attack.

Danny Cahalane, 38, was attacked with acid at his home on Lipson Road, Plymouth, on 21 February 2025 and died in hospital on 3 May. Seven men and two women are on trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, from London, was the first defendant to take the stand in the trial. He is charged with murder, an alternative charge of manslaughter, participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and attempted kidnapping.

"I've never been Plymouth in my life, until I got arrested," he told the court on Tuesday.

Adedoja said he "didn't even know" Plymouth existed and had never heard of Danny Cahalane before his arrest.

He told the jury he was a low-level cannabis dealer who was asked by a drugs gang boss called Ryan Kennedy, known as Frost, to organise a driver to collect a £70,000 debt from Plymouth in exchange for money.

Adedoja said he knew Frost as they both lived on the Rockingham Estate in south London for a period of time.

Adedoja said he would buy drugs from Frost or send people to Frost to buy drugs.

Adedoja said he left the estate when he was 19 and told the court he had not spoken to Frost in years before he was contacted "out of the blue" in December 2024.

"I knew nothing of the plan," he told the court.

The court heard one of the men who went to Plymouth was 23-year old Kelvin Asante, from Eresby Place in London.

Adedoja told the jury Asante was injured when he returned to London.

He said when he asked what happened, Asante said he had thrown acid on someone.

"The plan that I was involved in was to get a driver to drive Kelvin Asante to get some money," he said.

"I wouldn't have got involved at all".

Paris Wilson, 35, and Jude Hill, 43, from Plymouth, Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, Israel Augustus, 26, Isanah Sungum, 22, Ramarnee Bakas, 23 and Brian Kalemba, 23, all from London, are charged with murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Wilson, Adedoja, Bakas, Augustus, Sungum and Kalemba have also been charged with being part of an organised crime gang, along with and Arrone Mukuna, 25, and Jean Mukuna, 23 from London.

Adedoja, Bakas, Wilson, Jean Mukuna and Arrone Mukuna are also charged with attempted kidnapping.

The trial continues.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.