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| Youth guilty of crossfire murder | Youth guilty of crossfire murder |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A teenager has been found guilty of killing a care assistant who was caught in crossfire during a shoot-out. | A teenager has been found guilty of killing a care assistant who was caught in crossfire during a shoot-out. |
| Magda Pniewska, 26, was shot in the head in New Cross, south London, in October last year. | Magda Pniewska, 26, was shot in the head in New Cross, south London, in October last year. |
| She was talking on her mobile to her family in Poland when she was shot. Her sister told the Old Bailey she heard Ms Pniewska's last breath down the phone. | She was talking on her mobile to her family in Poland when she was shot. Her sister told the Old Bailey she heard Ms Pniewska's last breath down the phone. |
| Armel Gnango, 17, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and possessing a gun to endanger life. | Armel Gnango, 17, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and possessing a gun to endanger life. |
| The court was told it was not Gnango's weapon which fired the fatal bullet but he was still responsible for the killing because he was involved in the gunfight. | The court was told it was not Gnango's weapon which fired the fatal bullet but he was still responsible for the killing because he was involved in the gunfight. |
| The second teenager was also arrested but not charged, the court heard. | The second teenager was also arrested but not charged, the court heard. |
| The ray of sunshine that was Magda has gone Barbara Pniewska A mother's grief class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7400777.stm">'Wild West' killing in crossfire | |
| He was named by Gnango, but denied being involved and was not charged because of lack of evidence. | He was named by Gnango, but denied being involved and was not charged because of lack of evidence. |
| Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said: "In scenes reminiscent of the Wild West, Magda was to become the innocent victim of a gunfight by two total strangers. | Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said: "In scenes reminiscent of the Wild West, Magda was to become the innocent victim of a gunfight by two total strangers. |
| "She was caught in the crossfire between two youths armed with handguns. Each had a score to settle. | "She was caught in the crossfire between two youths armed with handguns. Each had a score to settle. |
| "The gunfight tragically ended the life of a young woman who had fearlessly given her life to caring for others." | "The gunfight tragically ended the life of a young woman who had fearlessly given her life to caring for others." |
| Police chief describes how witnesses were protected in court | |
| The victim's mother, Barbara Pniewska, said in a victim impact statement read in court: "The death of our Magda has cast a shadow on our reason for living. | The victim's mother, Barbara Pniewska, said in a victim impact statement read in court: "The death of our Magda has cast a shadow on our reason for living. |
| "My child's life has been untimely cut short. The ray of sunshine that was Magda has gone from our family." | "My child's life has been untimely cut short. The ray of sunshine that was Magda has gone from our family." |
| Giving evidence, Ms Pniewska's sister Elzbieta Luby said she heard three or four shots before hearing her sister die. | Giving evidence, Ms Pniewska's sister Elzbieta Luby said she heard three or four shots before hearing her sister die. |
| "There was a short break between the third and fourth shot, like a moment's hesitation," she told the court. | "There was a short break between the third and fourth shot, like a moment's hesitation," she told the court. |
| "I asked Magda 'What's happening, what is going on, who's shooting?' She said 'Wait a minute, Ella.' The fourth shot came. | "I asked Magda 'What's happening, what is going on, who's shooting?' She said 'Wait a minute, Ella.' The fourth shot came. |
| "I heard the last breath of Magda." | "I heard the last breath of Magda." |
| Gnango, of Streatham Hill, south-west London, told the court: "I put my hands over my head as I was crouching and let off a shot. | Gnango, of Streatham Hill, south-west London, told the court: "I put my hands over my head as I was crouching and let off a shot. |
| Armel Gnango claimed he had never fired a gun before | |
| "It was not more than two shots. I was aiming at the sky. | "It was not more than two shots. I was aiming at the sky. |
| "I had never shot a gun before. I was panicking. I was trying to scare him off." | "I had never shot a gun before. I was panicking. I was trying to scare him off." |
| The conviction for murder of someone who was known not to have fired the fatal shot was described by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as "unprecendented". | The conviction for murder of someone who was known not to have fired the fatal shot was described by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as "unprecendented". |
| Outside court, CPS lawyer Jane Scholefield said: "Even though the defendant did not fire the fatal round, and even though Magda Pniewska was not the intended target of either gunman, the defendant bears a joint criminal liability for her death. | Outside court, CPS lawyer Jane Scholefield said: "Even though the defendant did not fire the fatal round, and even though Magda Pniewska was not the intended target of either gunman, the defendant bears a joint criminal liability for her death. |
| "Each fired their guns with intent to kill at a time when there were bystanders present between them." | "Each fired their guns with intent to kill at a time when there were bystanders present between them." |
| Det Ch Insp Tony Boughton said officers are continuing to gather evidence against the other youth involved in the shoot-out | Det Ch Insp Tony Boughton said officers are continuing to gather evidence against the other youth involved in the shoot-out |
| "The investigation into Magda's murder is not over," he said. | "The investigation into Magda's murder is not over," he said. |
| Gnango, who pleaded guilty to having a prohibited weapon, was remanded in custody until 23 June when he will be sentenced. | Gnango, who pleaded guilty to having a prohibited weapon, was remanded in custody until 23 June when he will be sentenced. |