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Carer killed in 'Wild West' shoot-out by two youths
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent6 May 2008
A devoted care worker was killed in a shoot-out between two youths "reminiscent of the Wild West", the Old Bailey heard today.
Magda Pniewska, 26, was taking a short cut to her New Cross home and was on the phone to her sister in Poland when she was struck in the head by a stray bullet.
She was the innocent victim of a row over a debt between two teenagers she had never met, the court was told.
In the dock is a 17-year-old from Brixton who cannot be named for legal reasons. But his opponent in the shootout is the one who probably fired the fatal bullet, the jury heard. This youth, who also cannot be named, was identified by the defendant but the police have yet to gather enough independent evidence to bring charges.
Opening the case, Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said Miss Pniewska had come from Poland to work as a hospital care worker. "She was making her way home from work in October last year when she was killed by a single bullet to the head.
"She had not been the intended target but in scenes reminiscent of the Wild West she was to become the innocent victims of a gunfight between two young men who were total strangers to her.
"Both youths were armed with 9mm hand guns and quite ready and willing to use them in public, and each having a score to settle with the other... She was killed within minutes of leaving the nursing home where she worked and was within 500 yards of her own front door."
Mr Altman said the youth who has not been charged - who wore a red bandanna - fired first. "According to witnesses, the defendant then ducked down, using a car as cover. He was smiling, he had a big grin on his face," he said. "His first reaction was to pull out a handgun, raise it in his hand, level it at the man in the red bandanna and fire, then move slightly forward and fire again in the same direction."
Mr Altman said Miss Pniewska's last words on the phone to her sister, Elizbieta, were "Wait a second." This was followed by a single shot and "a delicate, quiet moment or exhalation of breath and the sound of rustling baggage".
Miss Pniewska lived with her boyfriend, Radoslaw Lipka, in a flat close to the car park where the shooting took place.
The defendant was arrested four days later. He has pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon.
Even though it is "almost certain" the fatal shot was fired by the other youth the defendant was still criminally responsible for murder, Mr Altman said.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty to murder, and denies attempted murder of his rival and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial continues.
