The woman found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the sulphuric acid attack that led to the death of Danny Cahalane in Plymouth has been sentenced, as others convicted over the incident received lengthy prison terms at Winchester Crown Court.
Sentencing and convictions
Paris Wilson, 38, who was convicted of manslaughter earlier this year, was sentenced on 31 July to nine years in prison. Three other defendants were handed substantial sentences for their part in the attack that took place at Mr Cahalane's home on Lipson Road on 21 February 2025.
| Defendant | Age | Conviction | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdulrasheed Adedoja | 23 | Murder | Life (minimum 31 years) |
| Israel Augustus | 26 | Murder | Life (minimum 30 years) |
| Ramarnee Bakas-Sithole | 23 | Manslaughter | 10 years |
| Paris Wilson | 38 | Manslaughter | 9 years |
"horrific"
Mr Cahalane suffered severe injuries after being attacked with sulphuric acid at his Lipson Road address and died in hospital on 3 May 2025.
Trial evidence and motive
The prosecution presented an 18-week trial in which jurors were told Mr Cahalane had accumulated substantial debts connected to drug dealing. Prosecutor Jo Martin KC outlined that the attack was linked to an unpaid sum of about £120,000, owed to a dealer identified in court as Ryan Kennedy, nicknamed 'Frost', who was said to be operating between Thailand, Spain and Dubai.
Court accounts included police interviews with Mr Cahalane from his hospital bed in the weeks before his death. He reportedly explained that he had fallen into debt after one of his junior dealers absconded without settling money, and that he had subsequently lost further funds through gambling.
Local impact and context
The case has drawn attention to organised crime and drug debt-related violence affecting local communities. Plymouth residents have been left shocked by the brutality of the attack and the protracted legal process that followed. The multiple convictions and heavy sentences will be seen by some as a strong message against violence linked to the drug trade, while the case also highlights the cross-border nature of criminal networks referenced by the prosecution.
- Victim: Danny Cahalane — attacked 21 February 2025, died 3 May 2025.
- Primary motive given at trial: unpaid drug debt of approximately £120,000.
- Sentences include two life terms and two multi-year determinate terms for manslaughter.
Police and Crown Prosecution Service action resulted in multiple defendants being brought to trial, with additional people sentenced in May for related roles. The authorities have not been reported as naming any further suspects beyond those convicted.
The verdicts and sentences bring a degree of legal closure in a case that has unsettled the city, though the wider issues raised in court — drug supply, organised debt and associated violence — remain matters for ongoing enforcement and community safety work.
