Hitman jailed for killing student

A hitman who executed a student with a single shot to the head was jailed for life with a minimum of 30 years at the Old Bailey today.

Daniel Turvey, 22, lay in wait for his victim and a companion after following them through the streets of Earl's Court.

Detectives believe he killed Galal Hamza, 25, on the orders of two of west London's biggest drug dealers, although the motive is still unclear.

Mr Hamza had been sent to Britain to complete his education in safety after his father and three brothers died in Somalia's civil war.

Turvey killed him then chased his friend Abdul Aziz and shot him through his thigh and buttock as he ran for his life.

Sentencing Turvey, Judge Giles Forrester said: "This was an execution in cold blood. Why you committed these outrages I don't know for sure - it may be that there was a drug link. It may well be that you were acting on behalf of somebody else which would make you a hitman (hired) to snuff out somebody who needed killing.

"Mr Aziz may consider himself lucky to have escaped with his life. There was a degree of planning and you chose your moment to strike in the comparative quiet area of Redcliffe Gardens."

Outside court Detective Chief Inspector Chris Watts hailed the sentence for "sending a clear message to anybody minded to commit this sort of horrendous crime on the streets of London".

Mr Hamza's mother, who has now lost her entire family to violence, was said to be "devastated" by her son's death, the court heard.

Turvey, of the World's End estate, Chelsea, claimed he was not even at the scene but was found guilty of murder and attempted murder after the jury deliberated for two hours. He had been arrested with cocaine worth up to ?1,650 in his possession.

The court was told that IT student Mr Hamza and his friend were shot while walking home from My Place nightclub in the early hours of April last year.

Turvey had gone to the club after receiving a series of mobile phone calls, then waited in a McDonald's before ambushing his victims.

Jeremy Donne QC, prosecuting, said: "Mr Aziz became aware of three men walking behind himself and Mr Hamza ... Mr Aziz halfturned towards them. As he did he saw one man pointing a gun, heard a bang and turned and ran."

Mr Hamza was shot through the left temple with a .38 calibre bullet which police later found in the road. Turvey ran after Mr Aziz, took aim and fired, but Mr Aziz managed to run on until he reached Hyde Park almost a mile away.

The two men allegedly seen with the killer are believed to have ordered the shooting. They were arrested and interviewed by police but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge them.

The judge commended the police and two American students who gave evidence. "The British public is indebted for their assistance in removing a dangerous killer from the streets of London," he said.

Turvey is the second resident of the World's End estate to receive a major sentence at the Old Bailey in the last 10 days. Neil Jones, 19, who shot Daniel Blackstock dead with a converted imitation gun in the King's Road, Chelsea, after a row over cannabis, was jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years.