Teenager convicted of London murder

A 17-year-old was found guilty today of murdering a care worker caught in the crossfire of a "Wild West" shootout in a south …

A 17-year-old was found guilty today of murdering a care worker caught in the crossfire of a "Wild West" shootout in a south London car park.

Polish-born Magda Pniewska (26), died instantly after she was hit in the head by a stray bullet a few hundred yards from her home in New Cross last October.

She had been talking to her sister in Poland on her mobile phone as the shooting between two teenagers erupted in a car park opposite the care home where she worked.

Armel Gnango had denied murder, attempted murder and possessing a gun to endanger life but was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury on all charges.

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He had admitted having a prohibited weapon.

Prosecutors said Gnango was criminally responsible for Ms Pniewska's death even though he did not fire the bullet that killed her.

The trial had heard that the youths had pre-planned their fight because Gnango was owed money by his rival.

"In scenes reminiscent of the Wild West, Magda was to become the innocent victim of a gunfight by two young men who were total strangers to her," prosecutor Brian Altman had told the jury.

"She was caught in the cross-fire between two youths armed with handguns which they were willing to use in public. Each had a score to settle."