23/06/2008

Man Given Life For 'Wild West' Shooting

A man has been handed a life sentence for the murder of a woman killed in a "Wild West" style shoot out.

Magda Pniewska, 26, of Polish origin died from a bullet wound to the head close to her home in New Cross, south London in October last year.

Ms Pniewska, a nurse, had walked into the crossfire between two youths whilst on her way to her home, which she shared with her partner Radoslaw Lipka.

Armel Gnago, 18, has been told he must serve at least 20 years for the murder of Ms Pniewska, at St Albans Crown Court.

Presiding over the case, Mr Justice Cook told Gnango: "You plainly intended to kill the other and instead of either of you dying an innocent nursing assistant was killed instead."

Gnago was also given a minimum 12-year sentence for attempted murder and a five-year sentence for possession of a firearm - to run concurrently.

Another 17-year-old youth had been arrested but was released without charge as police had been unable to connect the second youth - named by Gnago - to the incident.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said during the case that Magda had not been the intended target.

He said that the shooting was "reminiscent of the Wild West" and that Magda had been the innocent victim of a gunfight between two young men who were "total strangers" to her.

Ms Pniewska's sister Elzbieta Luby, whom she had been speaking to on the phone, said that she heard three or four shots before hearing her sister die.

It is understood that Gnago had not fired the fatal round. Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer Jane Schofield said that he bore "a joint criminal liability for her death".

See: Trial Hears Polish Woman Was Killed In Shoot-Out

(DS)


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