Two gunmen 'tried to murder each other in nightclub shoot-out'

TWO men tried to murder each other in a shootout outside a Birmingham nightclub after one of them had their foot stood on, a court has heard.

- CARL JACKSON Court Reporter

Aaron Nubie and Kimani Durrell-Smith both suffered gunshot wounds as they fired at each other with 9mm handguns at FJ Lounge on Bickford Road, in Aston, on March 23 this year.

Garth Pantry, who was selling jerk chicken from a stand, was struck in the crossfire, even though he had nothing to do with it.

Durrell-Smith later told police that earlier in the night, one of his friends had stood on Nubie’s shoe and he would not ‘calm down’

Nubie, aged 45, of Victoria Road, Stockland Green and Durrell-Smith, 27, of Marsh Close, Erdington, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder and alternative offences of wounding with intent as well as one charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Prosecutor Phil Bradley KC, opening the case at Birmingham Crown Court said: “At the time of the incident each of these defendants was armed with his own 9mm handgun and both were intent on murder.

“Put shortly, each wanted to kill the other. Both were lucky to escape with their lives.