Ex-wife 'threatened' before fatal acid attack

The ex-wife of a drug dealer killed by an acid attack told police about threats to her by a gang boss, a court has heard.

Paris Wilson was arrested in March after the attack with sulphuric acid on her ex-husband Danny Cahalane, 38, at his home on Lipson Road, Plymouth, on 21 February last year.

Winchester Crown Court heard Wilson told police in an interview she had been in contact with drugs boss Ryan Kennedy, known as Frost, before the attack. Kennedy, who police believe is in Dubai, had made threats over a £120,000 debt owed by Cahalane.

Ten people are on trial accused of offences including murder, manslaughter, attempted kidnapping and being part of a drugs supply gang.

The court heard Cahalane had been threatened with his life by Kennedy over the drugs debt.

Wilson, who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder on 12 March, told police she had also been threatened by Kennedy after he added her on Snapchat in November 2024.

"He would get hold of me to say 'Dan's let me down' and ask where he was," she said.

On one occasion Kennedy had told her he was "going to blow him up and melt his face off", the court heard.

"It was said on more than one occasion that family would have to pay for the debt," she told police.

"I said to Danny, 'This guy is threatening me, just speak to him'.

"I just wanted the bill to be paid to end the threat to my family."

She maintained to police she knew nothing about the acid attack which happened as their daughter slept in the house where the attack took place.

Cahalane and Wilson had been together for seven years before splitting in 2022, and had a daughter together, Wilson told police.

Cahalane died from his injuries in hospital on 3 May.

"I don't think anyone thought it would be like this, not in their wildest dreams it would end like this," Wilson told police.

She told officers she had had no contact with Kennedy after the attack.

Cahalane had known Kennedy through his brother who he had grown up with in London, she told police.

She told detectives she had only met Kennedy once, on a night out in London, when she and Cahalane were a couple.

"We had a very big night out. Frost was sick in a bin. He was very young, tall and skinny, he didn't seem scary, like a kid," she said.

Paris Wilson, 35, and Jude Hill, 43, of Plymouth, and Israel Augustus, 26, Isanah Sungum, 22, Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, 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 Jenna Said, 39, of Plymouth, and Arrone Mukuna, 25, and Jean Mukuna, 23, both from London.

Adedoja, Bakas, Wilson, Jean Mukuna and Arrone Mukuna are all also charged with attempted kidnapping and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

They all deny the charges and the trial continues.

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