Talbot Green murder-accused saw gun days before killing, court hears

A man accused of murdering a woman shot dead in Talbot Green told a jury he saw a gun two days before the killing.

Joanne Penney, 40, died on 9 March opening the door of a flat at Llys Illtyd, Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in a killing allegedly linked to a turf war between rival drug gangs.

At Cardiff Crown Court, Jordan Mills-Smith said it was only when he “heard a bang” he realised someone may have been shot.

Mr Mills-Smith, one of five on trial, denies murder.

Joshua Gordon, 27, Tony Porter, 69, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, Kristina Ginova, 21, all from Leicester, deny murder.

Mr Gordon, Ms Quailey-Dashper, Ms Ginova and Mr Porter also deny participating in the activities of an organised crime gang.

Marcus Huntley, 21, from St Mellons, Cardiff, has already admitted murder, with his DNA identified on the weapon and gloves.

On Tuesday Mr Mills-Smith, 33, from Cardiff, told a jury he was part of a plan to sell drugs but did not make money from it.

As a result, he said, he “stepped away” from the operation, but still let Huntley into the house where he was living.

“Marcus would be there all the time,” Mr Mills-Smith said.

Mr Mills-Smith said they were at his grandmother’s house on 7 March, two days before Ms Penney was shot, when he saw a gun.

The court heard he saw it “on the side” while he was cleaning and told Huntley: “Get it out of my house.”

That, he said, was the last he heard of the gun.

On the day Ms Penney was shot, Mr Mills-Smith said he went out at noon to play football, leaving three people in his house.

On returning there was a group gathered in his kitchen.

“Marcus was talking about stealing money and drugs,” he said.

He said he did not see a gun or hear any talk of a gun and agreed to go because he needed money.

Huntley, he said, told him: “It’s gonna be in and out.”

The defendant said Huntley told him the plan was to get Melissa Quailey-Dashper to knock on the door to gain entry.

Mr Mills-Smith, the court heard, was driven to Talbot Green by Tony Porter accompanied by Huntley, Ms Quailey-Dashper and Joshua Gordon.

There was “laughing and joking” in the car and no conversation about violence or a gun, the jury heard.

On arrival, he acted as a look-out and Ms Quailey-Dashper knocked on the door.

He was not aware of a gun and was looking away from the door, Mr Mills-Smith said.

“I heard the door open and as I went to the side I heard a bang, so I ran,” he said.

When he turned around he said he saw Huntley putting something down his trousers and realised it was probably a gun.

As they ran back to the car he told the court he asked Huntley what it was but got no response.

That night Mr Mills-Smith said he received a text telling him “someone had died”.

Mr Mills-Smith said he had never met Ms Penney before and had no reason to hurt or kill her.

Asked by Mr Hynes KC if her shooting was ever discussed in his presence, he replied “no”.

He told the court he took responsibility for being there but could “only be responsible for my own actions”.

Of Ms Penney’s death, he said: “It’s devastating, no-one should die, not like that, that’s just crazy”.

Shown photos of a gun Mr Mills-Smith confirmed it was the one he saw at his grandmother’s house.

The case continues.