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Abstract

Three men acquitted over an alleged gang murder which went wrong are set to give evidence at an inquest into a Canonbury teenager’s death.

Joseph Burke-Monerville, 19, a forensic science student at London Metropolitan University, was gunned down while he sat in the back of a car in Hackney in 2013.

Joseph’s twin, Jonathan, was slightly injured by a bullet while his elder brother, David, had his arm shattered by a bullet which grazed his chest.

Joseph, who came from the royal family of one of Nigeria’s ethnic groups, lived in Canonbury Square at the time.

Police believe the killing was a case of mistaken identity during a gang war between the Pembury Boys and the A-Road gang, both from Hackney.

At a pre-inquest review hearing last Thursday, barrister Richard Keogh told coroner Mary Hassell that one of the potential witnesses, a 21-year-old acquitted of the murder charge, was unfit to give evidence for psychiatric reasons.

But Ms Hassell told him that the man, from Hackney, was an important witness who she would “not give up lightly”. She added: “I will have to be convinced that he is too unwell and if he is then I will have to give consideration to an adjournment. That would be a highly undesirable course of action.” Two others also acquitted of murder will give evidence at St Pancras Coroner’s Court in July.

At the hearing, Ms Hassell granted anonymity to one gang member who will give evidence. “Peter Brooks”, not his real name, will speak from behind a screen, but will remain visible to Mr Burke-Monerville’s family.

Sarah Le Fevre, representing the Met police, said: “The A-Road gang and its members are well known to police and it’s this evidence that ‘Mr Brooks’ will give which gives rise to very real concerns about his safety. A consequence of his giving evidence at the inquest will increase the threat to him and his family by this gang.”

Allison Munroe, representing Joseph’s family, said they wanted more evidence to be disclosed by police, including details of a shooting six weeks before Joseph’s death.

No one was injured but Joseph’s family want to know what the police knew about the incident.

They also want police to disclose what decisions were taken in the 48 hours after the shooting. But Ms Hassell said what happened after the killing was outside the scope of the inquest.