Gangster struck down in swift retribution for birthday party attack, court told

Salem Koudou, 19, was stabbed 32 times after he was chased by up to 15 people intent on revenge in Brixton, south London, jurors heard.

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Salem Koudou, 19, who was found with stab wounds in Wynne Road, Lambeth, south London on August 20 2020 (Metropolitan Police/PA) (PA Archive)

A street gangster was hacked to death in swift retribution for crashing a party on rival turf and attacking the birthday boy with a machete, a court has heard.

Salem Koudou, 19, was stabbed 32 times after he was chased by up to 15 people intent on revenge in Brixton, south London, jurors heard.

Darius Kwakye, 29, Donte McCalla, 21, and Tristan Bullock, 21, are on trial at the Old Bailey for his murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter, which they deny.

Opening their trial on Monday, Oliver Glasgow KC said there could be no excuse for the “murderous attack”.

On 20 August 2020, Mr Koudou and two others armed themselves with at least one knife and possibly a gun and set off in a stolen VW Golf to attack rivals, it was claimed.

Jurors were told Mr Koudou was a member of Stockwell-based gang All ‘Bout Money (ABM) which was in violent dispute with gangs known as 17 or Wandsworth Road, One Five O (150) or Get Back Gang (GBG), and Four Ten (410).

Mr Koudou and his companions first went to Wandsworth where a potential target was chased but managed to escape, the court heard.

They went on to Brixton where they came allegedly across an “ideal target”, a birthday party on Marcella Road for Tyreicke Williams, 28, who was affiliated to GBG.

Just before 6pm the VW Golf was driven head first into Kwakye’s parked Mercedes and turn over onto its roof, jurors heard.

Two of the unidentified occupants pulled themselves from the wreckage and ran off.

Mr Koudou got out with an “enormous knife” and began to chase guests, including Mr Williams and Kwakye, it was alleged.

The defenceless Mr Williams fell to the ground and was set upon by Mr Koudou but managed to get away despite being hurt.

Mr Glasgow said the response was “immediate and violent”, “swift and aggressive” as party guests armed themselves and gave chase.

He told jurors: “The roles were now reversed, Salem Koudou no longer had the upper hand, and he had 15 or more people to escape from.”

He ran into Wynne Road where he used his knife to ward off his pursuers.

Realising he was “hopelessly outnumbered”, Mr Koudou fled but fell to the floor and was set upon by members of the group, the prosecutor said.

Mr Glasgow told jurors: “In total he was stabbed more than 30 times and the injuries he sustained were catastrophic.

“His lungs, liver and stomach were damaged by the knives that were used to stab him, and the blades were wielded with such ferocity that some of the wounds were as deep as 14cm.

“Others damaged the bones of his rib cage, and one went through his skull.

“There was no hope of survival and yet seconds was all it took for this attack to take place, for his pursuers to have their revenge, and for the killers to disappear calmly as if nothing had happened.”

He added: “Given the build up to this shocking violence, there can be no doubt that Salem Koudou’s pursuers wanted to avenge the attack upon Tyreicke Williams.”

The defendants, from south London, were allegedly identified as being among the group of men who chased and stabbed Mr Koudou to death.

However, Mr Glasgow said they do not accept CCTV and forensic evidence and deny that they had anything to do with the murder.