Six Jailed for Life for 'Senseless' Murder of Innocent Woman

Six people have been sentenced to life in prison for the "senseless" murder of Joanne Penney, an innocent woman caught in the crossfire of a drug gang feud. Penney was fatally shot in March 2025 while visiting friends at a house in Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

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I can't put into words what's happened to our family. 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.

The prosecution established that drug dealer Marcus Huntley, 22, fired the fatal shot. The gun used in the attack had been transported from Leicester specifically for the revenge killing. Huntley, along with five other defendants, was convicted of murder following two lengthy trials at Cardiff Crown Court.

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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.

Sentencing the group, Mr Justice Fordham described Penney's life as "senselessly taken" and highlighted her status as an "innocent victim in a drugs war." The convicted individuals include Jordan Mills-Smith, 34, from Cardiff; Leicester trio Joshua Gordon, 28, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, and Kristina Ginova, 22; and drug gang boss Renaldo Baptiste, who orchestrated the attack from a prison cell.

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This was an incident fuelled and motivated by retribution, not for gain.

During the sentencing, defense barristers presented arguments for their clients, often emphasizing their secondary roles or lack of intent to kill. Gordon's barrister stated his involvement was as a "secondary party" motivated by retribution, not gain. Baptiste's lawyer claimed his client was "shocked" by the outcome and only intended to cause serious harm. For Huntley, it was argued the murder was "not done for gain." Quailey-Dashper's defense highlighted a life of severe hardship, addiction, and exploitation, suggesting her role was different from the others. Ginova's barrister noted a social services report describing her as "vulnerable" and exploited. Emotional victim impact statements were read, including one from Penney's son, Cody Griffiths, who expressed the profound and irreparable loss his family has suffered.

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She was born into destitution. She was born into abuse. She was born into exploitation. She was born into poverty. She was born into hopelessness. She was born into vulnerability and she was born into misery.