Jamaica-born man sentenced to life in jail for shooting which left 9-year old Keralite girl permanently injured

LONDON: The Jamaica-born man who orchestrated a gangland shooting at a Turkish cafe in Hackney that left a nine-year-old Keralite girl with life-changing injuries was on Friday sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 34 years.The judge delivered the sentence to Javon Riley (33), of Tottenham in London, at the Old Bailey.The girl was hit in the head by the first of six bullets fired from a passing stolen motorbike at the Evin Café in Hackney at 9.20pm on May 29 last year. She had gone there to have ice-cream with her family but ended up being caught up in the bloody rivalry between two Turkish gangs.Three men sitting outside the cafe were the intended targets.

All four were taken to hospital for emergency surgery.Following a three-week trial, on Aug 18 a jury found Riley guilty of the attempted murder of Mustafa Kiziltan (35), Kenan Aydogdu (45), and Nasser Ali (44), and of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the girl.The men received gunshot wounds to the arm, leg and thigh whilst one of the bullets remains lodged in the girl’s brain. Her parents are from Gothuruth, in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, and moved to Birmingham three years ago.

Following the sentencing, detective chief inspector Joanna Yorke, said: “While this outcome is a reminder that justice can be served, it will never undo the suffering caused to her or her family.”Riley scoped the area over several days and on the evening of the attack drove past the restaurant on several occasions in a stolen car to ensure that the intended targets were present.After the shooting, Riley helped the shooter flee and disposed of the firearm.

Neither have been found.The court heard Riley had a string of convictions in the UK dating back to 2008.The mother of the girl said her daughter was once an energetic, adventurous child. “Now, weakness on her left side means she can only watch from the sidelines, living with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet in her brain.”