According to the prosecution’s case at the Old Bailey, Odunlami was attacked by three robbers after leaving the restaurant. The robbers were allegedly informed about Odunlami’s watch by a security operator, Kavindu Hettiarachchi, who worked for the event’s organizer, Playhxuse. The robbers treated the eye as though it was genuine, despite the possibility that it may not have been.
The prosecutor, Duncan Atkinson KC, stated that Hettiarachchi was a vital member of the security team hired for the event, and his role was to protect the safety of those attending. However, he did the opposite by allegedly informing the robbers about Odunlami’s watch.
The robbers were identified as Louis Vandross, Jordell Menzies, and Quincy Ffrench. Vandross and Menzies were driven by Ffrench in a white Mercedes with altered number plates from northwest London. The three of them allegedly set off in a car with a disguised registration to commit a robbery. Their target was the Haz restaurant where Hettiarachchi was working.
The security operator was caught on camera filming outside the venue and calling Vandrose before the robbers arrived. Atkinson stated that Hettiarachchi was making the other defendants aware of Odunlami and his watch so they could rob him of the valuable item.
Odunlami was fatally stabbed by the robbers during the attack. The prosecutor stated that the motive for the attack was the watch, and the robbers had intended to steal it from Odunlami. The court heard that the eye may not have been genuine, but the robbers treated it as though it was.
The prosecutor argued that Hettiarachchi played a significant role in the events leading up to the attack and was complicit in the robbery. Hettiarachchi denied any involvement in the theft or the attack on Odunlami.
The trial at the Old Bailey is ongoing, and the defendants have pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy to rob. The case has garnered significant attention in the UK and Nigeria, with many expressing shock and outrage at the circumstances surrounding Odunlami’s death.
Odunlami’s family and friends remembered him as a kind and generous person passionate about music and helping others. His death has left a deep void in the music industry, where he was a rising star and a respected figure. The trial is expected to continue for several weeks, and many will closely watch the verdict.