Drugs turf war is linked
to Telford hangings
Drugs in Britain: special
report
Race
issues in the UK: special report
Nick Hopkins, Crime
correspondent
Friday April 28, 2000
The
Guardian
Errol McGowan, one of two black
men found hanged in mysterious circumstances in Telford, Shropshire, may
have been unwittingly caught up in a turf war between rival drug gangs shortly
before he died.
Detectives investigating his death initially concentrated on the theory that
the 34-year-old might have been the target of racists who had subjected him
to two years of abuse, including death threats.
They now believe the circumstances surrounding his death on July 2 last year
were far more complicated and are investigating whether there is a link between
his death and a turf war between white and Asian gangs vying for control
of the council estates in the Wellington area of the town.
Mr McGowan, a father of three, was known to be fiercely anti-drugs and there
is no suggestion that he was personally involved in drug dealing.
There is also no doubt that he had suffered severe racial abuse, including
death threats, in the months ...
© Copyright Guardian Media
Group plc. 2000
