by Lorraine King A vital witness who came forward to give evidence against an alleged double killer told the court why he turned his back on crime. Selorm Gbesemete, from Stonebridge Park, and Mohamed Korneh, from south London, were gunne

by Lorraine King

A vital witness who came forward to give evidence against an alleged double killer told the court why he turned his back on crime.

Selorm Gbesemete, from Stonebridge Park, and Mohamed Korneh, from south London, were gunned down outside the Tudor Rose nightclub in Southall, on December 15, 2002.

The Old Bailey heard Shakah Anderson, 28, from Bristol, killed the 21-year-olds as part of a tit-for-tat battle between rival gangs.

Investigating officers from Operation Trident, the Met's specialist team that investigates gun crime within the black community, had hit a wall of silence over the killings until the witness came forward in 2007.

The witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, decided to speak out after he charged with another crime.

Speaking in court today he said he had changed his ways because criminality was a 'dog eat dog world'.

Claiming Anderson, who was known as 'Cash', was the killer, he also named a second man, who the Times cannot legally identify (Mr X), and has since been shot dead.

He said that there was tension as soon as the gunmen entered the club because it was known there was trouble between the two sides.

He added: "The majority of people in the club were from the Stonebridge Estate.

"Because of what was going on, the beef that was going on, I didn't think they would turn up.

"They had their hands in their pockets and their jackets zipped up. "Everyone knew there was tension going on at that point."

He said that Anderson then climbed the stairs and shot Mr Korneh, known as Shorty, from behind.

He continued: "After the first shot there was a two second gap and Mr X started shooting.

"By that time the whole dancefloor went right to the back and Shorty was lying on the floor.

"Mr X was jumping back and forward. He fired seven to eight times. I was just staring."

He said he went over to Mr Korneh as the gunmen fled and found him struggling to breathe.

When he went outside he saw Mr Gbesemete's body.

He said: "There were lots of people round him and they were carrying him in.

"I could see that he was dead."

In cross-examination, the witness admitted he had been a drug dealer involved in fraud as well as violent crime.

But he added: "That's not the life I want to lead anymore and the friends who I thought were my friends wasn't there for me when I needed them.

"It's a dog eat dog world innit and you've got to look after number one."

Anderson denies two counts of murder.

The trial continues.

lorraine.king@archant.co.uk