Teenager receives life sentence for fatal shooting of woman through her front door

A young man has received a life sentence, with a minimum of 29 years in prison, for the murder of a woman he fatally shot through her front door. Lianne Gordon, 42, was killed within her Hackney, east London, residence on 5 December 2023, shortly after returning from a Jamaican vacation with her two children. Joshua Alexander, 17, was handed this sentence previously at the Old Bailey. The court had previously been informed that Ms Gordon was an unintended casualty of an ongoing dispute between opposing gangs, and that she had been attempting to shield her children from gang-related violence. Judge David Aubrey KC removed a reporting ban on identifying Alexander, who will reach 18 years of age in February. The adolescent denied his involvement as the shooter but was convicted of Ms Gordon’s murder in October, subsequent to a trial held at the same judicial venue. A jury additionally found him culpable of attempted murder concerning a 17-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man, who were shot in the street during the identical incident. Alexander also faced convictions for affray, possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger lives, carrying a bladed article, and possessing Class A drugs with the intent to distribute. During the sentencing of the teenager, Judge Aubrey stated: “You murdered an innocent woman who was behind her front door in her own home.” He added, “Her home should have been a sanctuary, a place of safety.” The judge further remarked that Alexander was “on a mission that night to execute members of your opposing gang” and had “devastated” Ms Gordon’s family, inflicting upon them “unimaginable grief.” The judge proceeded to note that the defendant’s absence of regret was demonstrated by rap lyrics discovered in his prison cell in January, which were “glorifying” his offenses. In a statement detailing the impact on victims, Ms Gordon’s twin sister, Louise, characterized her as “a force of nature” and conveyed that “everything has been destroyed, shattered and broken” following her demise. She informed the court: “I feel like I have lost my other half.” She continued, “She had nothing but love for me, as she did for everyone who was lucky enough to be in her circle.” Ms Gordon’s sister further stated: “I feel like I’m underwater most days trying to stay afloat. My mind is still in constant turmoil.” She asserted that her twin was “shot like a gangster” within her own residence, adding: “This gun crime has ripped a hole in my family and there is nothing we can do about it.” Relatives present in court applauded when the judge delivered the sentence, concurrently, an individual in the public viewing area exclaimed, “rot in hell.” Throughout the trial proceedings, prosecutor Mark Fenhalls KC informed the jury that Alexander was linked to the Pembury Gang from Hackney, a group engaged in conflict with the Amhurst Road gang. The court was apprised that Alexander possessed a history of convictions, commencing from when he was 15 years old. At the moment of the shooting, Alexander was out on bail, subject to conditions prohibiting his entry into Hackney, for an attempted murder charge connected to a distinct occurrence last March. Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who headed the Met Police inquiry, commented: “Alexander is a dangerous individual, who at just 16 years old had no qualms about carrying and using a deadly weapon.” She added, “We are pleased he has been brought to justice and that he will now spend a significant period behind bars.” For the finest content from BBC Radio London, tune into Sounds and connect with BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Submit your story concepts to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.