Man, who shot his cousin, jailed for life

A mentally unwell man has been jailed for life after shooting his cousin dead and injuring his brother at a family wake in west London

Jahmel Joseph, who has schizophrenia, carried out the attacks in Hammersmith in June last year. In his defence, Joseph claimed that in his psychotic state he feared Mr Rodney would kill him.

Judge Nigel Lickley KC told Joseph: “You have committed crimes of the utmost brutality.

“You have murdered Jordan Rodney, a person who showed you support and kindness by shooting him in the face at point blank range.”

Mr Rodney was shot at close range in the eye and the defendant’s brother, who survived, turned his head instinctively at the sound and put his hand up to protect his face.

Relatives were nearby and “it is only by very good fortune that this is not a case of double murder”, according to the judge.

He added Joseph committed his crimes “without regard for other people” and put “more lives at risk” as he tried to evade the police, including mounting a pavement, before crashing the car.

The judge also noted “you have offered no explanation” for your behaviour and there had been some “clear thinking” in his behaviour in targeting members of his family.

The judge said he was satisfied Joseph knew that if he did not take his medication the paranoia would return, and it did, and there was a limited connection between his mental illness and his actions.

Previously, the Old Bailey heard Mr Rodney, 30, had been arguing with Joseph at the wake, with the defendant complaining he had not been sleeping.

A relative then told the pair to keep the noise down before telling Joseph to go home.

He later got on his Yamaha motorcycle armed with a shotgun and returned to the wake just before midnight.

After the shooting, Joseph returned home and drove his Mercedes car to a service station in Buckinghamshire where he bought a coffee.

Jurors were told Joseph had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was prescribed medication for it.

His case was that he was unwell at the time of the shooting and acted as he did under the “reasonable belief” that he feared Mr Rodney would kill him.

In sentencing, the judge also noted the “moving and dignified” victim impact statements which showed how the family has been devastated by the attack.

The deceased was remembered by his mother Ivinia Rodney as someone who loved his family who were proud of how “strong and ambitious” he had become.

In a statement that was directed towards Joseph, and read out in court on her behalf, she said: “We as a family will never understand why you committed such an evil and horrific crime to our son Jo Jo.”

She added: “You made sure you took away that love from and and to make that worse Mr Joseph, you committed your evil crime at my niece’s wake and have shown no empathy.”

Mr Rodney’s girlfriend Ashleigh Marshall fought back tears as she spoke of her “amazing, kind-hearted, loving, caring boyfriend” and how his murder has destroyed her family.

She said: “I do not feel safe any more in the world.

“You have not only destroyed me, you have hurt my family. My mum has seen her daughter fall apart and that pain will stay forever.”

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts today are with the family of Jordan Rodney, and with the other victim in the case.

“Jahmel Joseph left behind a trail of utter destruction – one which claimed the life of his own cousin.

“It is a credit to the investigation team and armed response officers that Joseph was swiftly identified and arrested, and that his actions will not go unpunished.

“Despite his efforts to conceal his identity - wearing a motorcycle helmet and removing the numberplates from his getaway motorbike - our exhaustive CCTV enquiries and discovery of the murder weapon forced him to admit his guilt.”

The 29 year old will serve at least 39 years behind bars

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