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A woman has been convicted of manslaughter and attempted kidnapping for her involvement in a fatal acid attack on her former husband. Paris Wilson, aged 35 from Plymouth, was acquitted of murder by a jury at Winchester Crown Court. However, her role in the crime was found significant enough for these serious verdicts.
Wilson, alongside 23-year-old Ramarnee Bakas from London, was found guilty of manslaughter. The court also delivered murder convictions for Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, and Israel Augustus, 26, both London residents. Additionally, Jean and Arrone Mukuna, aged 24 and 25 respectively, were convicted of attempted kidnapping alongside Wilson. Other defendants faced various verdicts: Isanah Sungum, 22, was convicted of involvement in an organised crime group but cleared of murder and manslaughter; Jude Hill, 44, was acquitted of murder and manslaughter; and Brian Kalemba, 23, was found not guilty of gang involvement. Adedoja and Bakas were acquitted of attempted kidnapping charges.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Wilson, the mother of the victim’s child, was central to the planning of the attack that led to Danny Cahalane’s death. Prosecutors stated that Wilson provided information about Cahalane’s whereabouts to Ryan Kennedy, a Dubai-based drug lord known as Frost, and was complicit in facilitating the assault. The prosecution argued that Wilson was fully aware of the impending attack and made no efforts to prevent it. Wilson and Cahalane’s relationship began in 2015, while he was imprisoned at Dartmoor for drug offenses. They married in 2020 but separated following Cahalane’s suspended sentence in 2022. Messages shown in court depicted Wilson expressing anger over Cahalane’s lifestyle changes and even sending a chilling message days before the attack, hoping acid would be thrown on Cahalane and his partner. Prosecutors reinforced that this was a deliberate indication of her foreknowledge.
On the night of the attack, two men armed with sulphuric acid and a screwdriver forced entry into Cahalane’s home. Although he initially repelled the intruders, one returned and sprayed acid on him. Cahalane suffered severe burns and informed police that he suspected Kennedy was behind the attack and that Wilson had set him up, knowing he would be home with their daughter. Despite Wilson’s denials at trial, asserting she would never put her child in harm’s way, the jury dismissed her claims. The prosecution highlighted her repeated lies to both Cahalane and law enforcement and described her as a vital facilitator whose cooperation made the murder possible. Cahalane later died in hospital from his injuries.
During the four-month trial, it was revealed that Kennedy had instructed Wilson to help locate Cahalane as he owed Kennedy around £120,000. Kennedy had previously arranged a kidnapping attempt on Cahalane before commissioning the fatal assault, becoming angry at Cahalane’s failure to repay his debt. Prosecutor Jo Martin KC described how Wilson became Kennedy’s primary contact in Plymouth to pressure Cahalane and gather intelligence on his movements. She stated, “Paris Wilson was seemingly happy to give up all that information on the understanding Frost would make her wealthy.”
Following the verdicts, Cahalane’s family expressed a bittersweet sense of justice. They acknowledged that while the verdict does not bring Danny back, it marks a crucial step in the pursuit of accountability. The family spoke of the profound impact his death has had on their lives, emphasizing that Danny was more than a victim—he was a son, father, and loved one whose absence leaves a permanent void. They also noted that Danny’s mother, who tragically died the day after him, would have been proud of the outcome and would have stood beside them in seeking justice. After the jury delivered their verdict, Justice Norton commended their work, praising their dedication throughout the lengthy trial as “quite awe-inspiring.”
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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