A trio of killers from Brent, who are serving a life sentence for murdering a mother-of-one when they fired shots into a crowd of people, have had their appeal thrown out of court.
The Kensal Green Boys (KGB) gang members challenged their convictions at London’s Criminal Appeal Court on Tuesday (May 24), where three top judges said the case against them was ‘strong and compelling’.
Hassan Hussain, 31, of Cranhurst Road, Willesden Green ; Martell Warren, 24, of Napier Road, Kensal Green ; and Yasin James, 21, of Chaplin Road, Wembley , fired ‘indiscriminately’ into a crowd of people killing nursery teacher Sabrina Moss.
She was shot in the heart while out celebrating her 24th birthday in Kilburn High Road.
Her friend Sabrina Gachette suffered life threatening injuries but survived, while two other people were hurt in the shooting, on August 23 2013.
The appeal court also rejected a bid by Warren and James to have their minimum sentences cut, with Lady Justice Hallet saying long sentences were ‘reserved for the gravest crimes’, which this was.
All three men were found guilty of murder , three counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and two counts of possessing a firearm with intent, at the Old Bailey in August 2014.
They were ordered to serve 37 years in jail before they can even apply for parole.
After the sentencing, Sabrina Moss's uncle spoke about her as an 'angel' who
Sabrina Moss’s uncle spoke about her as an “angel” and was thankful to the justice system following the sentencing of her killers.
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Shots thought to be 'revenge attack' on rival gang
Miss Moss from Neasden, and her friend, were among a crowd standing outside a takeaway shop, the Woody Grill, when two hooded men - armed with a sub-machine gun and a sawn-off shotgun - fired at random.
The prosecution case was that Warren, Hussain and James were members of KGB, which had a longstanding feud with the rival gang, South Kilburn.
Warren, Hussain and James denied the charges against them - with Warren claiming the other two had used him as an ‘innocent dupe’ to drive them to and from the scene, while they denied any involvement whatsoever.
Lawyers for all three argued the jury should have been discharged after an unidentified witness was only revealed during the trial, and that detective’s evidence on gangs in the area should have been excluded.
Dismissing their appeals, Ms Hallett said the trial judge handled both issues appropriately and no ‘undue’ prejudice was caused.
She added: “For reasons that remain unknown, they planned a revenge attack upon a rival gang, using two particularly deadly weapons.
“They could have killed far more people and could have faced multiple murder charges.
“As it was, one young woman lost her life and her family are left grieving the loss of Sabrina.
“For the other young woman, her life will never be the same again.”
“We are satisfied that the sentences imposed, albeit extremely severe, were merited on the very grave facts of these offences.”
