A hired spotter and getaway driver has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 years for his role in a gangland shooting that left a nine-year-old girl with a bullet lodged in her brain. Javon Riley, 33, from Tottenham, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday for the attack outside an east London restaurant.
The girl was hit in the head by one of six bullets fired from a passing motorbike as she sat with her family at the Evin Restaurant in Kingsland High Street, Hackney, on May 29 last year. She was an innocent victim caught in a bloody rivalry between Turkish gangs of north London.
Three men at a nearby table were also injured in the shooting. They were said to be affiliated with the Hackney Turks organised crime gang, which had a rivalry with the Tottenham Turks.
Gang rivalry behind attack
Judge Mark Lucraft KC said the gang feud had seen numerous "tit for tat" murders and attempted murders in London and overseas over the past decade. He told Riley: "You had a leading role as a planner and a spotter and this was an act in revenge for previous incidents."
Riley was found guilty of causing grievous harm with intent to the girl and attempting to murder the three men - Mustafa Kiziltan, 35, Kenan Aydogdu, 45, and Nasser Ali, 44. The actual gunman remains at large.
Devastating impact on family
The girl's mother described the profound impact on their family in a victim statement read to the court. "Our daughter's joyful spirit remains but it is now wrapped in layers of frustration and silent pain," she said.
"She watches her friends do what she cannot and she carries it all inside with quiet strength. This tragedy did not just change our daughter's life, it broke something in us as a family." The mother added: "We grieve for the dreams we once had for her, dreams of music, sport and a carefree childhood, all replaced by therapy sessions, hospital appointments and adaptations for survival."
The nine-year-old spent three months in hospital and will suffer lifelong physical and cognitive problems as the bullet remains lodged in her brain. She now lives with a titanium plate in her skull.
Riley's criminal role
Prosecutors said Riley played a "key role" before, during and after the shooting. He carried out reconnaissance of the restaurant, scouted for potential targets and drove the gunman away in a stolen car that was later burnt out.
During the trial, Riley refused to identify who had recruited him for around £40,000, citing fear for his life and his family's safety. He claimed he believed it was a "smash-and-grab" robbery but later admitted the gunman had told him: "Shots have been fired. I need to get out of here."
Riley had a string of previous convictions dating back to 2008, including drug possession, driving offences and carrying weapons. He also admitted involvement in car theft, drug dealing and robberies, but said he had never been caught for those offences.
Police appeal continues
Scotland Yard has offered up to £15,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person who fired the shots. Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke said: "The dangerous man responsible for pulling the trigger is walking free, and it is imperative we find him."
She added: "People out there know what happened and are choosing to stay quiet. Please reconsider your decision to stay silent and share what you know."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
