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Gunman gets 20 years for crossfire murder of nurse
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent23 Jun 2008
A teenage gunman was jailed for a minimum of 20 years today for killing an innocent Polish nurse in a "Wild West"-style shootout in east London.
Magda Pniewska, 26, was caught in the crossfire on her way home from work at a care home in New Cross. She was hit in the head by a bullet and died instantly as she talked to her older sister in Poland on her mobile phone.
Armel Gnango, 18, of Streatham Hill, who did not fire the fatal shot, had been shooting at a teenage rival across a car park. He was convicted at the Old Bailey last month after a jury heard that he bore criminal responsibility for the murder.
Mr Justice Cooke, sitting at St Albans crown court today, told Gnango: "You went armed to find your man who then shot at you and a gun fight ensued... You plainly intended to kill the other and instead of either of you dying an innocent nursing assistant was killed."
The judge gave Gnango the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence. For the protection of the public, he also gave him a minimum 12-year sentence for attempted murder and a five-year sentence for possession of a firearm. Both sentences are to run concurrently.
