06/05/2008

Trial Hears Polish Woman Was Killed In Shoot-Out

A court has heard that a young woman was shot dead as she walked home from work in a shoot-out between two youths.

Magda Pniewska, 26, of Polish origin died from a bullet wound to her head close to her home in New Cross, south London in October last year.

Two male seventeen-year-old youths were arrested but only one was charged. The defendant pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and possessing a gun to endanger life but admitted having a prohibited weapon on his person on the day of the shooting.

Brian Altman QC, prosecuting said that Magda had not been the intended target of the bullet. He said that the shooting was "reminiscent of the Wild West" and that Magda was the innocent victim of a gunfight between two young men who were "total strangers" to her.

Mr Altman told the court that when the two youths met one another they drew fire at each other but both ran off unharmed.

It is believed that the fight ensued over a row about money.

Police have been unable to connect the second youth - named by the defendant - to the incident.

Ms Pniewska, a nurse, had walked into the crossfire whilst on her way to her home, which she shared with her partner Radoslaw Lipka.

The trial is continuing.

The death follows a long line of shootings in the UK, some the result of gang warfare. In October last year, 16-year-old Jonathan Matondo died from a single gunshot wound to the head in Sheffield and 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot dead in a car park in Croxteth, Liverpool.

(DS)

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