Beckton man Adam Valli guilty of trying to kill best friend

The jury's guilty verdict on Monday (February 12) follows a three-week trial at Basildon Crown Court.

Adam Valli, 22, of Derifall Close was arrested on May 19, 2023 after police connected him with a shooting in Shoeburyness, Essex on May 14. 

Officers from Essex Police received a call just after 2am on that day with reports of a man suffering a gunshot wound in Frobisher Way. 

Armed police were dispatched to the scene where they discovered a victim with a wound to his leg and found bullets at the scene.

Valli was best friends with the victim and was quickly identified as the suspect, police said.

Bullets found by police in Frobisher Way (Image: Essex Police)

Enquiries into the circumstances before the shooting revealed the pair had been at a nightclub in London on May 13 and had argued over a lift home. 

The argument continued for several hours over phone calls and text messages, with Valli threatening to "blast" his best friend.

Valli pursued the victim on the A127, cutting in front of the car the victim was in before shouting at him to get out. 

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Before both men in the car got out, Valli pulled a gun and threatened to take the victim to his mother's house and shoot him outside. 

The victim and another man exited the car in Frobisher Way whilst Valli pointed the gun to the victim's head. 

The 22-year-old then shot his former best friend in the leg, telling him he was going to bleed to death before fleeing the scene. 

When officers arrived to arrest Valli at his home address, police said it was apparent that he had attempted to change his appearance by shaving off his hair and beard. 

When questioned in interviews, he answered "no comment".

Valli is due to appear on April 8 for sentencing. 

Police said he will stand trial on charges of assaulting a police officer and drugs offences on a future date.