Watford 'wrong man' shooting gang members are jailed
Four members of a gang which shot the wrong man through a letter box have been jailed for 25 years each.
Shawn Smith was hit in the thigh when he was shot in South Oxhey, Watford, last December.
During an 11-week trial at St Albans Crown Court, the jury heard the intended target of the shooting was out of the flat at the time.
Anthony McLaughlin, Christopher Kerr, Leon Usher and Wayne Holness have been found guilty of conspiracy to murder.
McLaughlin, 27, of Baldwins Lane, Watford, 32-year-old Kerr, of Wyril Road, Lambeth, Usher, 39, of Bedford Road in Barton-Le-Clay and Holness, 23, of no fixed address, were jailed for 25 years each.
David Aaronberg QC, prosecuting, told the court: "Ahmed Oke was the target, but he was not there.
"Shaun Smith was staying there and received the impact of shot. Fortunately the premises had a reinforced letterbox fitted that absorbed much of impact of shot.
"Mr Smith suffered a very nasty wound to his leg.
"Had it not been for the reinforced letterbox and the fact that he was standing to the left of the door, he would have been injured extremely seriously or possibly fatally."
He said Oke was "concerned in a number of matters that may have led to him being the target for a revenge attack."
Holness was also convicted unanimously of possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply.
Michael Smith, 25, of John Street, South Norwood, London, was cleared of conspiracy to murder and of possessing a firearm.