A teenager who shot a young man near the Damilola Taylor Youth Centre has been sentenced to life in prison. Jesse Lloyd-Smith was found fatally injured close to his home in Peckham, south-east London, on July 10, 2024. Gabriel Charles, 19, had driven to the location in a burnt-out Ford S-Max car days after the incident. He fled the country post the shooting and denied being present during the crime.
Today, Charles was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 28 years at the Old Bailey. Judge Patrick Field KC described Jesse’s killing as a planned and premeditated murder, involving the acquisition of a stolen vehicle, false number plates, a firearm, and surveillance to track Jesse’s movements. The judge attributed this surveillance to Gabriel Charles.
While it couldn’t be determined if Charles was the shooter or a getaway driver, the judge emphasized that both individuals intended to kill the victim. A jury at the Old Bailey convicted Charles of murder while co-defendant Kywan JN Pierre was found guilty of plotting to pervert the course of justice. Five others were also convicted of aiding in the disposal of evidence to evade justice.
During the trial, it was revealed that the Ford S-Max approached the alleyway at around 4:50 pm on July 10. The gunman exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots at Jesse before fleeing the scene. Jesse’s mother, Ty Lloyd-Smith, who was nearby, heard the gunshots and found her son with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite emergency surgery, Jesse passed away the following day.
Evidence found at the scene included spent cartridges and bullets from a 9mm pistol, recovered with the help of dogs. The incident was partially captured on CCTV footage from a distance. Several defendants were sentenced for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, with varying lengths of imprisonment.
In response to the conviction, Ty Lloyd-Smith expressed the emotional turmoil her family continues to endure and thanked the authorities for their dedication to justice. She called for community support in creating a safer environment for children, emphasizing the importance of advocating for initiatives promoting safety and compassion.
Judge Field acknowledged the profound impact of the murder and commended the victim’s family for their strength and dignity throughout the trial. He criticized the disrespectful behavior displayed by the defendants during the proceedings, contrasting it with the victim’s family’s remarkable demeanor.
