Three jailed for life for murdering man in London gang feud

Three men have been jailed for life for the murder of a young footballer who was fatally shot in the head during a long-standing violent gang feud.

Taylor Cox, 19, died after being shot in an alleyway in London in June 2021.

Robel Michael, 22, of Islington, Jaden McGibbon, 22, of Crouch End, and Sichem Mangituka-Mpelo, 22, from Holloway, were found guilty of his murder.

Michael was set a minimum term of 27 years, with 26-year minimums set for McGibbon and Mangituka-Mpelo.

A retrial at the Old Bailey heard that Mr Cox died in hospital after being shot near a primary school in Hornsey on 8 June 2021.

Mr Cox, who had been stabbed in the past, was a member of the A Team gang associated with the N19 postcode.

The three killers were linked to a rival NOL gang which was involved with drug dealing, the Old Bailey was told.

The court heard they found out Mr Cox and a friend were on a "ride out" on their turf, prompting them to set out with at least one gun.

During the shooting, at least four .32 calibre bullets were fired from the same gun, likely to be a revolver, which was never found.

McGibbon's then-girlfriend Dunila Idrissi Oukili, 21, from Camden, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed for two years by Judge Rebecca Trowler KC.

She had rented a flat for McGibbon to lay low in, bought a new telephone Sim card and arranged transport and a change of hairstyle for him.

Two misfired cartridges and cases had also been recovered from her handbag four days after the shooting, the court heard.

Members of Mr Cox's family, who sat through two trials, returned to the Old Bailey to see the defendants sentenced.

A statement from Kerri Cox described her son as a "kind, happy and loving child" who was close to his two siblings.

She said he had "dreamt of becoming a footballer", having played for Finchley Revolution Football Club before being signed to Borehamwood Football Club at the age of 16.

At the time of his death, he was studying to be a mechanic at college in St Albans, she said.

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