Paris Wilson, 35, faces conviction for manslaughter and attempted kidnap in the death of her ex-husband, Danny Cahalane. A jury at Winchester Crown Court delivered these verdicts after an 18-week trial, finding Wilson not guilty of murder. The ruling centers on Wilson's admitted role in orchestrating an acid attack that resulted in Cahalane's death, as well as an earlier incident involving an attempted kidnapping.
Co-defendants Ramarnee Bakas, 23, was also found guilty of manslaughter. However, Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, and Israel Augustus, 26, were convicted of murder. The court heard that Wilson had lured Cahalane to her home in Plymouth, a precursor to the later attack. Prosecutors highlighted Wilson's history of "repeatedly" misleading both Cahalane and the police to obscure her involvement in the events.
Prosecutors stated Wilson "lied repeatedly, both to Cahalane and to police, to conceal her role."
The events preceding Cahalane's death suggest a complex entanglement. Investigators learned that Cahalane and a figure named Frost had a history dating back to their youth in south-east London, involving drug dealing, with Frost positioned as the "boss" and Cahalane his contact in Plymouth. Wilson had previously arranged for Cahalane to go to her home, where an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt by three men occurred the month before the fatal acid attack.
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During testimony, Wilson admitted to messaging Frost, expressing fear, though Cahalane apparently dismissed her concerns. She also mentioned threatening to involve the police due to perceived risks to their daughter, stating Cahalane "repeatedly begged her not to." Wilson claimed she did not know the men involved in the later attack and did not anticipate Cahalane would enter their vehicle. She also alluded to Cahalane's past suicide attempts and her temporary restriction of his access to their daughter.
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Cahalane's family has expressed profound devastation following his death. Other defendants, Adedoja and Bakas, were found not guilty of attempted kidnapping.
