More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The home of a man who gave evidence in a fatal shooting trial was petrol-bombed within hours of him leaving court.
Marley Booth was at the terraced property in Howard Road, Dartford, with his partner and three children when it was targeted during the early hours of Friday morning.
Two "molotov devices" were dropped through a window and one ignited.
Fire crews and police were called just after 2am to the house, which was gutted by smoke and flames during the attack.
Mr Booth had been a witness for the prosecution in the on-going trial of Michaela Sargeant, 25, and Lewis Wickenden, 26, both of Overy Street.
Sargeant is accused of the murder of father-of-three Kevin McKinley, who was gunned down in the street outside the couple's home on February 12.
The young mum denies the charge, as well as manslaughter.
Mr McKinley, of Louvain Road, Stone, suffered a fatal wound to his upper left buttock and hip.
Wickenden denies assisting an offender and possession of a semi-automatic, 12-bore single-barrel shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence.
Mr Booth had driven Mr McKinley and his young son, referred to as Kev Boy and aged six, to the couple's home on the night of the shooting.
He parked in nearby Fulwich Road while Mr McKinley went to the house to speak to Wickenden. His son remained in the car.
Mr Booth, who gave evidence on the second day of the trial at Maidstone Crown Court, reported hearing two loud bangs before driving the silver VW car closer to the junction of Merryweather Close and Overy Street and seeing his friend laying in the road.
Mr Booth tried to help Mr McKinley before leaving to take the boy to his uncle's house. He and Mr McKinley's brother then returned to Overy Street.
The investigating officer in the murder investigation, Det Con Andrew Jones, confirmed in court today that Mr Booth's home had been attacked.
But he said it was not believed to have been connected to the trial.
"To my knowledge I have spoken to the investigating officer and on the face of it it doesn't appear to be connected to this trial," explained DC Jones.
He confirmed that the arson investigation is on-going.
During the trial, the jury of seven men and five women heard that Wickenden claimed threats had been made against the lives of himself, Sargeant and their baby, then aged six months.
On one occasion the matter was reported to police and Wickenden later claimed following the shooting that he had acquired the shotgun for protection.
Michael Haynes, defending Wickenden, told DC Jones that during his cross-examination of Mr Booth, he had put it to him that there were "some unpleasant people" in the background. The officer agreed.
Mr Haynes added: "What was being suggested by me to Mr Booth is that the sort of people behind this are the sort of people you are going to be frightened of," to which the officer replied: "Yes, quite possibly."
The revelation that Mr Booth's home had been petrol bombed came at the end of the prosecution's case.
Sargeant is expected to start giving evidence this afternoon.
The trial continues.
