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Life for gunman captured on CCTV | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A gunman who went on a shooting spree in north London injuring two people, has been jailed for life. | A gunman who went on a shooting spree in north London injuring two people, has been jailed for life. |
Former boxer John Laidlaw, 24, who had earlier threatened to "kill all black people", was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder. | Former boxer John Laidlaw, 24, who had earlier threatened to "kill all black people", was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder. |
Laidlaw, of Holloway, north London, shot at two people in Islington, north London, last May. He missed one of his targets and hit a third person. | Laidlaw, of Holloway, north London, shot at two people in Islington, north London, last May. He missed one of his targets and hit a third person. |
One of the victims still has a bullet lodged in his neck. | One of the victims still has a bullet lodged in his neck. |
The Old Bailey heard that he shot Abu Kamara, 44, in Upper Street before accidentally shooting Emma Sheridan at Finsbury Park Tube station, as he aimed at a second man. | The Old Bailey heard that he shot Abu Kamara, 44, in Upper Street before accidentally shooting Emma Sheridan at Finsbury Park Tube station, as he aimed at a second man. |
'Intended to kill' | 'Intended to kill' |
Laidlaw was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison for the attacks. | Laidlaw was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison for the attacks. |
Passing sentence Judge Samuel Wiggs said Laidlaw "intended to kill" his victims, but they were not racially-motivated attacks. | Passing sentence Judge Samuel Wiggs said Laidlaw "intended to kill" his victims, but they were not racially-motivated attacks. |
class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6389205.stm">Racist past of gunman | |
"Although both people you aimed at were black I make no finding that your crimes were racially motivated," he said. | "Although both people you aimed at were black I make no finding that your crimes were racially motivated," he said. |
Following the conviction it emerged Laidlaw was found guilty of a racially-aggravated assault on a driver in 2004 and given a community punishment just days before the London shootings. | Following the conviction it emerged Laidlaw was found guilty of a racially-aggravated assault on a driver in 2004 and given a community punishment just days before the London shootings. |
Social worker Mr Kamara, 44, was with friends after a game of badminton when a sports bag belonging to one of his colleagues brushed against Laidlaw's friend as they passed each other. | Social worker Mr Kamara, 44, was with friends after a game of badminton when a sports bag belonging to one of his colleagues brushed against Laidlaw's friend as they passed each other. |
The gunman reacted by pulling out a gun and shooting Mr Kamara. The bullet deflected off Mr Kamara's chin, went through his voice box before finally lodging near his spinal column. | The gunman reacted by pulling out a gun and shooting Mr Kamara. The bullet deflected off Mr Kamara's chin, went through his voice box before finally lodging near his spinal column. |
Half an hour after shooting Mr Kamara, Laidlaw shot at Evans Baptiste who was with a friend. | Half an hour after shooting Mr Kamara, Laidlaw shot at Evans Baptiste who was with a friend. |
Mr Baptiste had chased Laidlaw after recognising him as the man who had attacked him with a hammer earlier in the year. | Mr Baptiste had chased Laidlaw after recognising him as the man who had attacked him with a hammer earlier in the year. |
The bullet brushed past Mr Baptiste and struck 26-year-old Emma Sheridan in the back. | The bullet brushed past Mr Baptiste and struck 26-year-old Emma Sheridan in the back. |
During the trial the jury saw CCTV footage of Laidlaw at Finsbury Park Tube station brandishing a gun as onlookers cowered in fear. | During the trial the jury saw CCTV footage of Laidlaw at Finsbury Park Tube station brandishing a gun as onlookers cowered in fear. |
Laidlaw was also found guilty of two firearms charges. | Laidlaw was also found guilty of two firearms charges. |