Two men jailed after peacemaker is shot as he tried stop argument at a wake

Jailed: Joseph Smith (left) and Michael Otshudi (right) were sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court
Metropolitan Police
Laura Proto12 February 2016
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Two men have been jailed for a total of five-and-a-half years after a peacemaker was shot as he tried to stop an argument at a wake.

Michael Otshudi, 37, and Joseph Smith 27, attended a memorial at Andover Community Centre in Holloway, with a group of unknown men on May 13 last year.

An argument began between the group and another man between 11.44pm and 11.50pm and a 54-year-old man tried to step in and diffuse the situation.

The peacemaker was shot as he tried to help the other man, who was assaulted, and the gang fled the scene.

The 54-year-old was taken to a south London hospital with serious injuries and he is still recovering.

Otshudi, of North Road, Highgate, was arrested after DNA was found outside the venue and he was identified in CCTV footage.

CCTV: Detectives want to trace the three men pictured in connection with the incident
Metropolitan Police

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was today jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court for 18 months.

Smith, of no fixed address, was arrested after his image was circulated by the Metropolitan Police Service. He later admitted possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear and violent disorder and was jailed for a total of four years.

Officers from the Trident and Area Crime Command are now appealing to find three other men involved in the incident and have today released CCTV images of men they would like to trace.

Detective Constable Irfan Khalifa, from Trident and Area Crime Command, said: “The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to tackling gang and gun crime. This was a reckless act, resulting in serious injury to an innocent person.

“Trident Gang Command has today secured convictions against two individuals and now appeals to the public to help identify those yet to be brought to justice.”

Anyone with information should call Trident on 020 8358 0045 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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