Life Sentences Handed Down in Drug-Related Murder Case
Six individuals have been sentenced to life in prison following the murder of Joanne Penney, an innocent woman caught in the crossfire of a violent feud between rival drug gangs. Ms. Penney was tragically shot through the heart on the doorstep of a house in Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in March 2025, where she was staying with friends.
Details of the Attack and Convictions
Marcus Huntley, 22, was identified as the individual who fired the fatal shot. The weapon used in the attack was reportedly sourced from Leicester as part of a planned revenge operation. Huntley, along with five co-defendants, was convicted of murder after two extensive trials at Cardiff Crown Court.
Mr. Justice Fordham, in delivering the sentences, described Ms. Penney's death as a "senseless taking" of an "innocent victim in a drugs war." Those convicted alongside Huntley include Jordan Mills-Smith, 34, from Cardiff; Joshua Gordon, 28, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, and Kristina Ginova, 22, all from Leicester; and drug gang leader Renaldo Baptiste, who orchestrated the attack from a prison cell.
The court proceedings revealed that the two rival drug gangs were engaged in a turf war centered around Talbot Green, specifically the address at Llys Illtyd where the shooting occurred. Weeks prior to the murder, Huntley and Mills-Smith, acting on behalf of Leicester drug boss Gordon, had positioned a drug dealer at the Llys Illtyd address. This dealer was subsequently assaulted and humiliated by a member of an opposing gang, prompting discussions of a reprisal attack between Huntley and Gordon. A firearm and ammunition were then acquired from the criminal underworld in Leicester and transported to Cardiff.
Following the shooting, Huntley buried the gun in a Cardiff park before fleeing the city. Mills-Smith also attempted to escape to Suffolk. However, police swiftly apprehended all six individuals, with Huntley being dramatically arrested on a National Express coach.
Sentencing Details for Each Defendant
- Marcus Huntley: Must serve a minimum of 30 years before being eligible for parole.
- Jordan Mills-Smith: Received a minimum term of 27 years.
- Joshua Gordon: Sentenced to a minimum of 32 years. The judge noted Gordon was a "dominant member" of the organized crime group.
- Renaldo Baptiste: Ordered to serve an additional 42 years in jail, concurrent with his existing 19-year minimum term, making him eligible for release consideration in 2068, at which point he would be 81 years old.
- Melissa Quailey-Dashper: Who knocked on the door under the pretense of buying drugs, must serve a minimum of 14 years.
- Kristina Ginova: Gordon's girlfriend, who destroyed crucial evidence after the shooting, will serve a minimum of 12 years. The judge acknowledged she was unaware of the planned doorstep shooting or the presence of a gun but acted to protect Gordon.
Victim Impact Statements
Emotional victim impact statements were read in court, highlighting the profound grief and devastation caused by Ms. Penney's murder.
Joanne Penney's son, Cody Griffiths, expressed his incomprehension, stating, "To have the person who brought me into this world and gave me life to be taken away from me in such an awful way is something I will never come to terms with." He added, "You shot my mother through the heart and shot her whole family through the heart too. I will never get to see or speak to her again."
Her two teenage daughters shared their anguish, writing, "Being told our mum was killed is something we'll never forget. How could someone do something so cruel?" They continued, "We were given memory boxes but we didn't have any memories to put inside and we never will. Our dad died when we were little and you have taken our mum, our history has been taken away."
Sharon Penney, Joanne's mother, conveyed the widespread impact on their close-knit family, describing nightmares and her inability to return home due to fear and depression. "I have nightmares about what happened and wake up screaming and crying only to realise it's not a nightmare, it's real," she stated.
Source: Six jailed for life for 'senseless' murder of innocent woman