Three men are on trial accused of a “professional hit” murder more than 16 years ago.

Robert Blackwell, Terence Barry and David Carvel are alleged to have conspired to murder drug dealer Leonard Naylor in Istead Rise near Gravesend on April 18, 2001.

Another man, 52-year-old Kane Ward, had the case against him dismissed in June.

Mr Naylor, 46, was shot on his driveway in Bracondale Avenue just after 5pm.

He was hit four times in the head, neck, chest and arm from a van as it drove past.

The van was left burnt out almost two miles away in an underpass beneath the A2 at Pepper Hill in Northfleet.

Blackwell, 52, of Atlas Road, Plaistow, east London, Barry, 44, of no fixed address, and 51-year-old Carvel, of Colchester, Essex, are approaching the end of the second week of their trial.

The case, which is being heard at Blackfriars Crown Court in London, is expected to last six weeks.

The four men were arrested following a review of the cold case by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.