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11/10/03 - Plea to the underworld
Mercury
Detectives are appealing to underworld criminals for help
in tracing the drive-by assassins who gunned down bodybuilder
David King with a Kalashnikov rifle in Hoddesdon on Friday.
The 32-year-old celebrity minder was blasted with 25 rounds
of armour-piercing bullets as he left the Physical Limit
gym in Brewery Road with a friend at 9.20am.
This week detectives investigating the chilling execution,
which rocked the town of Hoddesdon, confirmed the gun
used was an AK-47 assault rifle - a weapon favoured by
hardened armies on the battlefield.
Detectives are hoping that even criminals with gangland
connections will be shocked by a gun with a 'killing range'
of more than 1,094yds (1,000m) being fired in a street
used by shoppers and schoolchildren - and close to St
Catherine's C of E Primary School.
"Preliminary, but detailed examinations have confirmed
that at least 25 rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm armour-piercing
ammunition were used in the murder of David King,"
said senior investigating officer of Hertfordshire police
Det Supt Steve Read.
"I'm appealing to anyone who may have been involved
in the disposal of the weapon or anyone who knows the
whereabouts of the gun right now.
"I'm particularly keen to hear from members of the
criminal fraternity who, although many have a high tolerance
to the use of firearms, would probably be shocked at the
fact that a weapon designed for battlefield use, which
discharges such high velocity armour piercing rounds,
has been used on a public street in suburban Hertfordshire."
Police said Mr King had "come from a background of
considerable criminality".
Fifty officers are working on the investigation and hundreds
of house-to-house enquiries and witness statements have
been taken.
Mr King, a father of four from Stevenage, who had guarded
celebrities including rock star Robbie Williams and boxer
Nigel Benn, was shot by balaclava-clad hitmen in a white
Peugeot van as he was getting into a sports car after
a regular workout at the gym.
The van was later found burned out and dumped in Lampits,
Hoddesdon.
A Mercedes saloon car, also thought to have been used
by the killers, was later found burned out in Maidens
Lane, Bulls Cross, Enfield.
A second man, who has not been named, was also shot in
the attack, but his injuries were not life threatening.
He was said to have been taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital
in Harlow and released on Saturday to an undisclosed location.
Mr King was taken to hospital by ambulance where he was
pronounced dead from multiple shotgun wounds.
* Anyone with information on the murder should contact
the incident room on 01707 354236 or crime stoppers on
0800 555 111. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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