TV appeal over murdered doorman

Mr Babadiya was shielding a woman when he was shot

Relatives of a doorman who was shot outside the London club where he worked have made an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

Kolawole Babadiya, 28, and another man who survived, were shot outside Bar SW8 in Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, south-west London, on 15 July.

Police renewed witness appeals and the owner of the bar was also interviewed on Monday's show.

A £20,000 reward is being offered to bring Mr Babadiya's killer to justice.

'Nice guy'

Mr Babadiya's mother, Remi, told Crimewatch: "Kola [Kolawale] was a very fun-loving boy, very caring as well.

"July 15th is a day I will never forget. I was wishing and praying he was not going to die, that he was not going to die..."

His friend, Michael Blair, who is also the owner of Bar SW8, said: "He was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.

"He was the sort of person I could call up at 4 o'clock in the morning if I had a problem. As a doorman, well, you'd just have to ask the punters, but they loved him."

He said that up to 0130 BST the party was "going well, everyone was loving it, then there was chaos".

He said as the bullets were fired, he was not aware that anyone had been shot until he saw Mr Babadiya lying on the floor.

According to witnesses the gunman was standing about 30m (98 feet) from the entrance to the club when he pulled a machine gun from under his coat and opened fire.

'Totally innocent'

He was described as being unable to control the gun as it fired and it was only his "incompetence", according to police, that prevented more people being injured.

Det Insp Tim Neligan said at least 18 bullets were fired by the gunman, who is thought to live in the area.

He said police are keeping an open mind as to the motive but believe the gunman may have been from a local gang and was firing at other gang members in the street.

He said Mr Babadiya was a "wholly innocent man" who was not involved in guns, drugs or gangs.

He appealed for anyone who knows the gunman to come forward and said all information would be treated in confidence.