Three people in court over town centre shooting

Two men and a 17-year-old boy have appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a shotgun was fired in what police described as a "targeted attack".

Essex Police said officers were called at 22:10 BST on 31 August to Market Place in Braintree, where three people were hurt, two of them sustaining serious injuries to their faces.

Destiny Ema, 23, of Meadgate Avenue, Chelmsford; Kayden Brown, 18, of Noakes Avenue, Chelmsford, and a 17-year-old from Braintree – who cannot be named because of his age – appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.

All three defendants were remanded in custody and their cases sent to Chelmsford Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 5 October.

Ema, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey jumper, did not enter a plea to the charges against him, which include three counts of attempted murder, as well as:

• Attempted grievous bodily harm with intent
• Possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
• Possession of a firearm while committing an indictable offence
• Possession of a firearm while prohibited for life
• Harassment
• Malicious communications
• Possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence

The court heard how the allegations against Ema relate to three separate incidents which all took place in August, including the most recent incident on 31 August.

Brown, wearing a blue top, did not enter a plea when he appeared in the dock, and nor did the 17-year-old boy.

Both are accused of three counts of attempted murder and one of possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life.

All three defendants were remanded in custody.

Essex Police previously said two teenage boys had sustained serious, but not life-threatening, injuries to their faces and upper bodies, while a third person was also hurt and taken to hospital.

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