Ex-wife of acid victim 'lied' over drug debt plan

A murder trial has been told the ex-wife of a drug dealer killed by an acid attack, arranged with a drugs boss for men to meet him over a debt on a different occasion, before the fatal attack.

Danny Cahalane, 38, was seriously injured at his home on Lipson Road, Plymouth, on 21 February 2025 and died in hospital on 3 May. Nine people are on trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Prosecutor Jo Martin KC previously told the jury Cahalane told police drugs boss Ryan Kennedy was the man behind the attack, to whom he was in "significant debt".

Paris Wilson, 35, from Plymouth, admitted "facilitating" a meeting in Oreston on 19 January, but said "I didn't think it was going to turn into anything untoward".

The court had previously heard that Cahalane owed about £120,000.

Wilson told the court she had arranged with Kennedy for Cahalane to be outside her address at about 10:15 GMT, so somebody could meet Cahalane about the drugs debt.

The court was told three men, Kelvin Asante, 23, Arrone Mukuna, 25, and Jean Mukuna, 23, from London, were in a car waiting for him.

Wilson told the court she thought they were going to say to him "where is the money?"

Wilson told the court she watched from her window and saw "one of the males put his hands on" Cahalane's car door handle, trying to gain access, before Cahalane sped off.

Shortly after, Cahalane received a message from Kennedy which said "close call?"

The jury was shown messages from Cahalane to Wilson, asking if she had any involvement in the incident.

In one of them, Wilson said: "No Dan. I didn't. I've got a lot on at the moment and I don't need you disappearing."

Martin told the court Wilson "lied to Danny" to "gaslight him".

"Yes, I did lie to Danny about it," Wilson said.

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.

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