FOUR men will be sentenced next month after admitting conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of a shotgun with intent following an incident in a Southampton park last year.

Gunshots were heard just after 1am on September 5 last year on River Walk and a large amount of cannabis was found at an address and in a nearby vehicle, abandoned in Riverside Park.

Following the incident, the body of a 20-year-old Southampton man was found in the water at Riverside Park.

Daily Echo:

Robert Johnston, Christy Flaherty, Ken Mulangala, as well as another man who cannot be named due to legal reasons, admitted to going to River Walk together to burgle a house that was being used as a cannabis factory.

It was put to them they went there to steal the class B drug for their profit.

It was reported that gun shots were heard by residents of River Walk and bags of cannabis were left at the scene and in nearby Riverside Park.

A jeep was also left in Riverside Park which contained a large amount of cannabis.

Daily Echo:

Shortly after the incident, officers found the body of Sol Hemy, aged 20, in the water at Riverside Park.

A post mortem examination found that Sol’s cause of death was by drowning.

Johnson, Flaherty, Mulangala and the fourth man were later identified as being involved in the burglary on River Walk by Hampshire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit based in Southampton.

Yesterday (October 27) they pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of a shotgun with intent.

Daily Echo:

They are due to be sentenced on November 24.

Detective Inspector Andy Symes said: “It is tragic that a young man lost his life as a result of this incident. It is clear this case highlights the violence and harm associated with drug supply.

“On September 5, this group of young men decided they would try and steal a large amount of cannabis, for their own gain, on a residential street, without any regard for the rest of the community and how their actions would affect others.

“It must have been terrifying being a resident in River Walk that night, and hearing gun shots in the street.

“I want to thank those who reported the incident to us and assisted our investigation as to what they saw and heard that night.

“Please continue to report drug related activity to us.”