| Wannabe in my gang?
- Articles |
04/10/03 - Bodybuilder killed
by hitman at health club
Sandra Laville
The Daily Telegraph
ONE man was shot dead and another injured yesterday in
a drive- by shooting outside a health club.
Residents in Hoddesdon, Herts, described hearing automatic
gunfire as traders were setting up their stalls in the
market square nearby. Witnesses said a white van was
driven up to the Physical Limits Health Club in Brewery
Road and repeated shots were fired at two bodybuilders
who had just walked out.
The man who died was aged 32, from Stevenage.
The shooting came days after David Blunkett, the Home
Secretary, was put under pressure to tackle gun crime
by relatives of Marian Bates, who was shot dead during
a raid on the family jewellery shop in Nottingham on
Tuesday.
In Hoddesdon yesterday residents described their shock
at witnessing what bore all the hallmarks of a professional
hit.
Michael Priddis, who was nearby when the shooting happened,
said the scene was more like a film than reality. "All
the cars in front of the gym are peppered with bullets.
We live in a little town and everyone just gets on with
their business. Two men being shot down in this sort
of town just seems unreal."
The men were attacked shortly after leaving the gym
at 9.20am. Paul Bryan, who owns the fish and chip shop
next door, said: "We heard this sudden burst of
gunfire going off for about three or four seconds. There
must have been at least eight or nine shots and there
are bullets in the driveway inches from my shop."
Karen Michael, a taxi driver, said: "I thought
it was fireworks. Then the police turned up in the square
and CID men were getting out of cars and running across
to the gym."
Shortly afterwards, the white Transit van used by the
gunmen was found abandoned and burning in a road nearby.
Eric McIllwraith, a resident, said he saw one man lying
on the ground with chest and leg injuries. "The
man and his friend had just left the health club. It
looks like they have been shot through the window of
a passing car."
A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: "One
man has died, the second man sustained minor injuries
and is helping police with their inquiries."
In August, 2000, two armed robbers were convicted of murdering
a Sicilian millionaire's wife while stealing her Rolex
watch in Hoddesdon. They were sentenced to eight life
terms in jail. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
|
|
|
