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| Youth guilty of crossfire murder | Youth guilty of crossfire murder |
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| A teenager has been found guilty of killing a nursing care assistant who was caught in crossfire during a shoot-out with another youth. | A teenager has been found guilty of killing a nursing care assistant who was caught in crossfire during a shoot-out with another youth. |
| 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 had been talking to her sister Elzbieta Luby in Poland at the time, who heard her last breath as she died. | She had been talking to her sister Elzbieta Luby in Poland at the time, who heard her last breath as she died. |
| 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 Old Bailey 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 Old Bailey 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. |
| In scenes reminiscent of the Wild West, Magda was to become the innocent victim of a gunfight by two total strangers href="/1/hi/uk/7400777.stm">'Wild West' killing in crossfire | |
| 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." |
| Giving evidence, Ms Luby said she heard three or four shots before hearing her sister die. | Giving evidence, Ms 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. |
| The ray of sunshine which was Magda, has gone from our family Barbara PniewskaMagda's mother | The ray of sunshine which was Magda, has gone from our family Barbara PniewskaMagda's mother |
| "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." |
| Giving evidence, Gnango, of Streatham Hill, south-west London, said: "I put my hands over my head as I was crouching and let off a shot. | Giving evidence, Gnango, of Streatham Hill, south-west London, said: "I put my hands over my head as I was crouching and let off a shot. |
| "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." |
| He added: "I had never shot a gun before. I was panicking. I was trying to scare him off." | He added: "I had never shot a gun before. I was panicking. I was trying to scare him off." |
| In an impact statement read out in court, Miss Pniewska's mother Barbara said: "We have lost a much-loved and loving daughter. My child's life has been untimely cut short. | In an impact statement read out in court, Miss Pniewska's mother Barbara said: "We have lost a much-loved and loving daughter. My child's life has been untimely cut short. |
| "The ray of sunshine which was Magda, has gone from our family." | "The ray of sunshine which was Magda, has gone from our family." |
| Gnango, who pleaded guilty to having a prohibited weapon, was remanded in custody until 23 June when he will be given a life term with a minimum number of years he will serve. | Gnango, who pleaded guilty to having a prohibited weapon, was remanded in custody until 23 June when he will be given a life term with a minimum number of years he will serve. |