Man Doused With Acid Who Later Died Allegedly Gambled Away Monies Owed to Notorious Drug Kingpin

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on

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Jagajeet Chiba

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Acid murder trial

After being doused with acid in his own Plymouth, England home, 38-year-old Danny Cahalane revealed that he owed GBP 120,000 ($164,051) to a Dubai Crime boss known as “Frost” (real name Ryan Kennedy). 

Ten individuals are currently standing trial in the UK tied to the criminal case.  Seven men and three women are being charged with murder, manslaughter, attempted kidnapping, and being part of a gang linked to drug trafficking.

The victim suffered his injuries on February 21, 2025 after being doused with what was later determined to be sulfuric acid.  

Cahalane reportedly shared with investigators that his position had been “sort of middle management in [Kennedy’s] drugs supply chain”.

He is believed to have gambled away most of the money belonging to Kennedy. 

Pictured above: Victim Danny Cahalane

An ambulance crew found Cahalane "was clearly in considerable pain", after the attacks.  Cahalane would survive another ten agonizing weeks before finally succumbing to his injuries.   

Kennedy allegedly repeatedly demanded the money from Cahalane, issuing a series of threats and eventually telling the Plymouth father of two: "You're gonna die".

A series of messages between Cahalane's ex-wife Paris Wilson, and her mother suggested she was being offered money to tell the drug kingpin where Cahalane was located.

Wilson allegedly told her mother that she was "getting a nice drink out of this".

The  jury this week heard testimony claiming Wilson threatened her ex-husband in a string of texts just days before he was attacked with the sulfuric acid including one saying she hoped he ended up "with acid in your face".

She allegedly helped track down her ex-husband so the drug boss could recover his cash with prosecutors saying this was "on the understanding Frost would make her wealthy". Prosecutor Joanna Martin KC told jurors Wilson set Danny up because she expected to be paid a few thousand pounds, and because she believed "Danny deserved to be hurt."

Pictured above: Cahalane with ex-wife Paris Wilson

Israel Augustus, 26, from London, with Kelvin Asante, 23, from London are accused of carrying out the actual acid attack on Cahalane.

From the BBC

After a series of unsuccessful demands for the money from Kennedy, the prosecution said on 16 February "everything changed" for Cahalane and planning for the attack started.

"Frost really has given up getting the money back, but that means he has to ensure that Danny doesn't get away with making a fool of him," said Martin.

A Renault Arkana was stolen from London and given false plates before two men from Kennedy's drugs gang went to Plymouth, followed later by two more, staying at the home of Jenna Said, 39, in Ernesettle in Plymouth.

At 03:35 GMT on 21 February the Renault driven by Israel Augustus, 26, from London, with Kelvin Asante, 23, from London in the passenger seat headed towards Cahalane's rented Lipson Road home.

CCTV showed both heading to the rear of Cahalane's home where he and his daughter were sleeping.
 

Cahalane told investigators he "was woken up by two guys assaulting him with a screwdriver or knives", and managed to chase the attackers away. 

The acid substance was found around the bed and on the bed but had apparently not come directly in contact with Cahalane.  

A phone conversation that took place outside the home with one of the men after exiting the home was captured on CCTV, with a voice heard telling them: "You should go back."

Augustus then stayed in the car while Asante went round to the front of the house where he confronted Cahalane in his doorstep and attacked him with acid from a Starbucks cup.

The CCTV picked up sounds of screaming and Asante is seen running back to the car and shouting: "Go, go, go!"

Neighbors would rush to Cahalane's aid. 

The trial continues this week. 

  • Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com 

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