LONDON: A man has been convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent for his role in the shooting of a nine-year-old Keralite girl when she was eating ice-cream with her family in a restaurant in Dalston.
The girl was hit in the head by the first of six bullets fired from a passing stolen motorcycle at a Turkish restaurant at 9.20 pm on May 29, 2024. She was caught up in a gangland shooting.
Javon Riley (33) of Tottenham, London, was also found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey of attempting to murder three men — Mustafa Kiziltan (35) Kenan Aydogdu (45) and Nasser Ali (44) — who were sitting outside Evin Restaurant. The three men were the intended targets. All four were taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
The men had affiliations with Hackney Turks and the shooting was ordered by the Tottenham Turks, a rival gang, the court heard. Both gangs are responsible for importing most of the UK’s heroin.
The girl has been left permanently injured with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet still in her brain. She was in hospital for three months and will continue to have physical and cognitive difficulties throughout her life.
Her parents hail from Kerala’s Ernakulam district and moved to Birmingham three years ago for work. Following the verdict her mother said: “This was not just an accident — even if our daughter was not the intended target, those responsible were still attempting to take lives, it is brutal and inhumane. We live with this pain every day, knowing nothing will ever be the same for our family.”
Riley denied the charges but was convicted on Monday following a three-week trial. He did not pull the trigger but scoped out the area over several days, which included drinking pina coladas at the bar opposite. On the night of the attack, he travelled past the scene several times in a stolen car to ensure the targets were present and helped the gunman evade capture. The gunman and firearm have never been found. Detectives are offering up to £15,000 (Rs 17 lakh) for information that leads to the gunman. Riley, who is not a member of Tottenham Turks, refused to name the gunman or the person who ordered the shooting fearing for his safety.
He will be sentenced on Sep 12.
The girl was hit in the head by the first of six bullets fired from a passing stolen motorcycle at a Turkish restaurant at 9.20 pm on May 29, 2024. She was caught up in a gangland shooting.
Javon Riley (33) of Tottenham, London, was also found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey of attempting to murder three men — Mustafa Kiziltan (35) Kenan Aydogdu (45) and Nasser Ali (44) — who were sitting outside Evin Restaurant. The three men were the intended targets. All four were taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
The men had affiliations with Hackney Turks and the shooting was ordered by the Tottenham Turks, a rival gang, the court heard. Both gangs are responsible for importing most of the UK’s heroin.
The girl has been left permanently injured with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet still in her brain. She was in hospital for three months and will continue to have physical and cognitive difficulties throughout her life.
Her parents hail from Kerala’s Ernakulam district and moved to Birmingham three years ago for work. Following the verdict her mother said: “This was not just an accident — even if our daughter was not the intended target, those responsible were still attempting to take lives, it is brutal and inhumane. We live with this pain every day, knowing nothing will ever be the same for our family.”
Riley denied the charges but was convicted on Monday following a three-week trial. He did not pull the trigger but scoped out the area over several days, which included drinking pina coladas at the bar opposite. On the night of the attack, he travelled past the scene several times in a stolen car to ensure the targets were present and helped the gunman evade capture. The gunman and firearm have never been found. Detectives are offering up to £15,000 (Rs 17 lakh) for information that leads to the gunman. Riley, who is not a member of Tottenham Turks, refused to name the gunman or the person who ordered the shooting fearing for his safety.
He will be sentenced on Sep 12.
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