Four guilty of murdering innocent woman in drug turf war

Four people have been found guilty of murdering an innocent woman inadvertently caught up in a turf war between two drug gangs in south Wales.

Joanne Penney was shot dead when she opened the front door of a flat she was visiting in Talbot Green last March by Marcus Huntley. He admitted pulling the trigger on the second day of the trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

Jurors found his co-defendants Jordan Mills-Smith, from Cardiff, and Leicester trio Joshua Gordon, Melissa Quailey-Dashper and Kristina Ginova all guilty of murder.

All five will be sentencedat a later date. A sixth defendant, Tony Porter, from Leicester, was found not guilty of murder.

The 40-year-old mother was shot as a result of a rivalry between the gangs, one based in Cardiff and the other in Leicester.

During a lengthy trial that began on 22 October, the court heard drug dealer Huntley, from Cardiff, received his supply from Leicester and sold crack and cocaine in south Wales.

Jurors were told the 21-year-old wasn't the only one selling in the area and when he placed a dealer at 10 Llys Illtyd in Talbot Green to sell drugs on his behalf, local rival dealers known as the "Jimmy gang" took offence.

It was alleged they "confronted and humiliated" members of the other gang, led in Wales by Huntley and Mills-Smith, on two separate occasions, prompting the Huntley gang to discuss obtaining a gun and ammunition to "send a message".

Huntley acquired a converted starter pistol and on 9 March, he travelled with four other defendants to Talbot Green.

He approached the property with Mills-Smith, 33, and Quailey-Dashper, 40, who later claimed she was given crack cocaine to knock on the door before she then ran away.

Joanne, who jurors heard had only been staying at the property temporarily, answered the door and was shot at close range by Huntley.

Paramedics carried out open heart surgery at the scene but after finding a bullet hole in her heart, pronounced her dead.

The defendants drove back to Cardiff, where the morning after, Huntley tried to cover his tracks by burying the gun and bullets in a park near homes and a primary school.

He then shaved his hair and travelled to Leicester but was arrested making a return journey on a National Express coach on 12 March.

Ginova, 23, and Gordon, 27, were arrested the day after the murder at their flat in the Oadby area of Leicester. Tony Porter, 69 and Quailey-Dashper were also arrested that night.

The final arrest was made on 14 March when Mills-Smith was found hiding at an address in Stowmarket in Suffolk.

Following her arrest, Ginova blamed Huntley and told police: "I've got nothing to do with it. The person who's done it, his name's Marcus."

Mills-Smith later claimed the only intention was to take back drugs they were owed, while Quailey-Dashper said she was confused and high on drugs and wasn't sure she had even heard gunshots.

Gordon claimed he didn't find out about Penney's death until after he returned to Leicester.

Tony Porter, who shared a flat in Leicester with Quailey-Dashper, said he had only been paid to drive one of the cars and didn't know about the gun.

The court heard Huntley had taken selfies of himself smiling and holding the gun before the murder and also filmed his walk through the woods to bury it.

It was this video, examined by forensic police that led detectives to the package, which contained DNA linked to Huntley, Mills-Smith and Gordon.

Huntley changed his plea on the second day of the trial and admitted shooting Joanne.

Prosecutors previously said while he might have pulled the trigger, all the defendants were "jointly responsible for her murder" by assisting and encouraging the plan.

Huntley and Mills-Smith admitted being part of an organised crime gang while Gordon, Quailey-Dashper, Ginova and Porter were found guilty of the same offence.

All six defendants were found guilty of membership of an organised crime gang.

Speaking after the verdicts were delivered Det Ch Insp Lianne Rees said: "There is still another trial to come, but today's convictions reflect the diligence and hard work of the investigation and prosecution teams.

"Our thoughts go out to Joanne's family at this very difficult time. Whilst we recognise these convictions won't bring Joanne back, we do hope that this outcome goes someway to allowing the family to grieve."

Following her death, relatives of Joanne Penney thanked the community of Talbot Green for the messages of support and condolences.

"We are devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved Joanne. She was a daughter, mother, sister, and niece - loved deeply by all who knew her. Her kindness, strength, and love for her family will never be forgotten."