Danny Cahalane, 38, died after being doused with sulphuric acid at his home in Plymouth. He spent 10 weeks in hospital with severe burns before passing away.
The attack on 21 February 2025 followed a failed kidnapping attempt the previous month. Ms Justice Norton said he was targeted because he owed a “significant drug debt”, and that Danny suffered corrosive injuries that would have been life-changing had he survived. “For most if not all of the weeks between the assault and his death he would have been in significant pain,” she said.
The court heard Danny owed around £120,000 to a drugs boss based in Dubai, for whom he had worked managing the Plymouth branch of the operation. When he could not repay money lost through gambling, and after an associate fled to New Zealand, he received demands for repayment, some made through his ex-wife Paris Wilson, followed by threats on his life and those around him.
On 19 January 2025, Danny was subjected to an attempted kidnap by the Mukuna brothers and a third man after parking in Oreston to drop his daughter off to Wilson. He managed to get into his car and escape. Minutes later, he received a message from the crime boss referring to a “close call” and warning he would die next time.
Wilson became a key contact for the crime group, giving up information including Danny’s whereabouts as an act of revenge and for payment, police reported. She also put pressure on Danny on behalf of the drugs boss to pay up.
Planned attack
The court heard that Abdul-Rasheed Adedoja and Ramarnee Bakas were key organisers trusted by the crime boss in the build-up to the 21 February acid attack. In the early hours of that day, a stolen vehicle drove to Danny’s property, reversing into an alleyway nearby. Israel Augustus and a second man then approached Danny’s home, entered and attacked him with weapons.
Danny fought them off before the second man retrieved a cup of sulphuric acid and threw it over him, causing injuries which would prove fatal.
Before his passing, Danny was able to give officers a detailed description of the events on the night of the attack from his hospital bed, as well as a full background of the debt, threats and previous attempted kidnap.
Escape and investigation
Augustus, who was driving, and the second man left Plymouth and headed back towards London before breaking down on the M4. They arrived on foot in the nearby Wiltshire village of Grittleton, attending properties and the local pub to try to charge their phones and arrange a lift. They eventually returned to London after Adedoja and Bakas organised a lift to pick them up from Chippenham.
Adedoja had constant communication with the crime boss around the time of the attack, made bank payments to some of those involved and actively recruited others. Augustus’s bedroom was found to contain a large amount of different types of drugs and associated paraphernalia, and his phone had messages consistent with drug dealing.
Sentences
Following an 18-week trial, Israel Augustus, 27, of Pulford Road in London, was found guilty of murder. He also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years, minus time already served.
Abdul-Rasheed Adedoja, 23, of North Circular Road, Neasden, London, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 31 years, minus time served.
Danny’s ex-wife Paris Wilson, 35, of The Quay, Plymouth, was jailed for nine years for manslaughter and attempted kidnap after supplying information on his whereabouts to a crime boss and to Ramarnee Bakas.
Bakas, 24, of Junction Road, London, was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 10 years.
Three other defendants received custodial sentences in May for lesser roles in the wider conspiracy which resulted in Danny’s death:
- Isanah Sungum, 23, of Sterling Way, Edmonton, London, was sentenced to 26 months for participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group.
- Jean Mukuna, 24, of Werrington Street, London, was jailed for 52 months for attempted kidnap. He previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply drugs.
- Arrone Mukuna, 25, also of Werrington Street, London, was sentenced to 16 months for attempted kidnap.
Jude Hill, 44, of Wantage Gardens in Plymouth, stood trial with the other defendants but was cleared of any involvement in Danny’s killing. He was jailed for 32 months for being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs from Thailand to the UK. Two other defendants were acquitted either during or at the conclusion of the trial.
‘He should have had many years ahead’
Detective Superintendent Rachael Bentley of the Major Crime Investigation Team said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Danny’s family and friends who have lost a father, son and loved one.
“Danny was just 38 when he died and should have had many years ahead of him to look forward to. His family have handled themselves with dignity throughout proceedings and our thoughts remain with them going forward.
“This was a particularly barbaric attack on a man in his own home – a place he should have been safe. Despite for a time successfully fighting off his attackers, Danny must have been terrified.
“Acid attacks remain rare in Devon and Cornwall but are a particularly cowardly and devastating means of violence.
“Danny’s killing goes way beyond the two individuals that attended his home on 21 February 2025. It involved numerous individuals based in Plymouth, London and abroad who performed various roles in the planning, execution and events following the attack.
“This was a challenging and dynamic investigation that directly tackled a wide-reaching organised crime group. Organised crime has no place in our community and when it does creep into our force area, we will investigate and target those responsible regardless of where they stand in the chain of command.”
