Gipsy Hill murder: Six jailed for shooting 'peacemaker'

Ezra Mills was described as an innocent victim who was trying to resolve a dispute involving a friend

Five men and a teenage boy have been jailed for life for shooting dead a "peacemaker" in south London.

Ezra Mills, 22, was targeted in an alleyway in Gipsy Hill last March.

The Old Bailey heard he may have been shot after trying to smooth over trouble between a friend and some of the defendants after earlier gunfire.

All six, who were found guilty of murder, were convicted on joint venture as it was not proved who fired the fatal shot.

'Intoxicated by guns'

Marcel Mason, 21, Trevelle Williams, 18, Dwayne Lock, 21, all from Gipsy Hill; Robert Saint, 20, of Camberwell; David Smith, 22, of Streatham, and Lavarne Forde-Morgan, 16, of Upper Norwood were all convicted of murder.

It was not proved who fired the fatal shot

• Mason, Williams and Lock were given minimum terms of 25 years and six months, 24 years and 21 years respectively

• Saint was jailed for 23 years

• Smith was given 24 years

• Forde-Morgan, whose anonymity was lifted by the judge, will be detained for at least 18 years

All except Lock were found guilty of having a firearm with intent to endanger life, while Williams and Forde-Morgan were also convicted of a second firearms offence.

Mr Mills had knocked on the door of one of the gang on the Central Hill estate to try to resolve a dispute between them and a friend, the court was told.

Witnesses praised

The "armed and dangerous group" then traced Mr Mills to an alleyway and "intoxicated by guns and high on adrenalin" they shot him, said prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC.

The gang was described as being out of control

"They were, quite simply, out of control," he added.

Judge Jeremy Roberts said he was frustrated none of the six had admitted who fired the gun nor given evidence in court.

"Has not the time come for the person who pulled the trigger to stop this nonsense and save the others?" he asked.

Mr Mills' mother, Pamela, paid tribute to two women who did agree to testify, saying: "I can't imagine the fear you must have felt and I thank you for having the strength to come forward and speak out."