Two men who gunned down a mum-of-two jailed for life

Two men who gunned down a mum-of-two in north London have been jailed for life

27 year old Perry Allen-Thomas was handed a minimum term of 38 years and 20 year old Amir Salem was handed a minimum of 26 years

Mother-of-two Michelle Sadio, 44, was killed outside the River of Life Pentecostal Church in Willesden, north London, on December 14 2024. She was fatally injured during a drive-by shooting which hurt two other people

Ms Sadio had been among around 100 mourners, including children as young as five, to attend the wake for Dianne Boatong, 80.

At around 9pm, guests were outside on the pavement when a black Kia pulled up and shots were fired into the crowd.

Ms Sadio, a legal administrator, was hit and died at the scene.

Transport for London contractor Kenneth Amoah, 39, was hit in the back and paralysed below the waist, and self-employed Kadeem Francis, 32, was shot in the foot.

The intended target was said to have been a rapper called Trapstar Toxic, real name Adetokunbo Ajibola, 33, who was at the event.

Following an Old Bailey trial, Perry Allen-Thomas, 27, and Amir Salem, 20, were found guilty of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

As they appeared to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Jean-Marie Sadio described his wife, who he worked with at the same legal firm, as a “pillar”.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Sadio said: “The ones who were behind what happened that night can never know what they have done. I have forgiven them because the future has to be my focus for the sake of my children.

“I cannot have our son and daughter growing up with hatred in their hearts and bitterness for something they don’t have any power to fix.”

Addressing the defendants in the dock, he said: “Today, you stand guilty before all but, most importantly, you stand forgiven. Do not burden yourself with guilt but an unquenchable and determined desire to change. If you succeed in this, you would have repaid society.”

Mr Sadio said it was too late for his family but not too late for the defendants, saying: “Amir and Perry, please use time to reflect, choose wisely and become – become the dream your parents and loved ones always longed for you to be. Their pain must also be unspeakable.”

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