FIVE thugs face jail after the brutal murder of an innocent woman caught in the crossfire of a drug-gang turf war.
Four members of a gang were found guilty of murder yesterday following the fatal shooting of a mum-of-four.
Joanne Penney, 40, was gunned down as she opened the door of a flat in Talbot Green, South Wales on March 9 last year.
Ms Penney, who jurors were told was only staying at the address temporarily, answered the door and was shot at point-blank range.
Cardiff Crown Court heard a bullet was fired into Joanne’s chest at around 6pm.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, she tragically died at the scene, with a bullet hole later found in her heart.
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Marcus Huntley, 21, from Cardiff, admitted pulling the trigger and changed his plea to guilty to the murder of Ms Penney on the second day of his trial.
Jurors went on to convict his co-accused Jordan Mills-Smith, 33, from Cardiff, and Leicestershire trio Joshua Gordon, 27, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, and Kristina Ginova, 22, of murder.
All five have been found guilty of the murder and will be sentenced at a later date.
A sixth defendant, Tony Porter, 69, from Leicestershire, was found not guilty of murder.
The group of six accused were all found guilty of being part of an organised crime group.
The court heard the shooting was sparked by a bitter turf war between rival drug gangs, one based in Leicester and the other in Cardiff.
Jonathan Rees KC, prosecuting, said: “Miss Quailey-Dashper knocked the front door and then retreated while Mr Huntley, who was standing alongside Mr Mills-Smith, leaned forward and immediately shot at the person that opened the door.
“Miss Quailey-Dashper, Mr Huntley and Mr Mills-Smith ran quickly back to the car where Mr Porter and Mr Gordon waited before Mr Porter drove away.
“The trigger may have been pulled by Marcus Huntley, but the prosecution’s case is that each of Joshua Gordon, Marcus Huntley, Jordan Mills-Smith, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, Kristina Ginova and Tony Porter are jointly responsible for her murder.”
In a heart-breaking statement, Ms Penney’s family said: “We are devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved Joanne.
“She was a daughter, mother, sister, and niece – loved deeply by all who knew her. Her kindness, strength, and love for her family will never be forgotten.
“During this incredibly difficult time, we ask for privacy as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss.
“We appreciate the support and condolences from the community and kindly request that our family be given the space to mourn in peace.”
The court heard how one gang, dubbed the Rico OCG, was led by Joshua Gordon – known as Rico/Reece.
His girlfriend, Kristina Ginova, was also involved in the drug trafficking ring, Mr Rees told the court.
Their operations were based in Leicester but had recently reached South Wales.
Meanwhile, the other gang was headed by Daniel “Jimmy” Joseph.
During the long-running trial, which began on October 22, jurors heard how Cardiff drug dealer Huntley sourced his drugs from Leicester before flooding south Wales with crack and cocaine.
The court was told that when the 21-year-old installed a dealer at 10 Llys Illtyd, Talbot Green, rival locals dubbed the “Jimmy gang” took offence.
Mr Rees told the jury: “On March 9 2025, Joanne Penney opened the front door of 10 Llys Illtyd, Green Park, Talbot Green, and she was instantly shot to the heart with a single bullet fired from a handgun at close range.
“She barely managed to stagger back to the living room of the address before falling to the floor and dying moments later.
“The background to the killing was a clash of rival organised crime groups.”
“The expansion by Mr Gordon into South Wales and Talbot Green had not been taken well by a rival group of drug dealers led by Daniel Joseph who also operated in the area,” Mr Rees said.
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