Bullet still in brain, plate in skull, UK court's verdict no relief for 9-yr-old Malayali girl

Kochi: A nine-year-old Malayali girl, Lissel Maria, who was having ice cream with her parents in a restaurant in East London, was never the target of a drive-by shooting in May 2024. One of the bullets fired by a bike-borne gunman hit her. A stray bullet has changed her life forever. Lissel, the daughter of Ajeesh and Vinaya, from Kochi’s Gothuruth was caught in the crossfire of a rivalry between two Turkish gangs. She survived, but she now lives with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet still lodged in her brain.

On Monday, a jury at the Old Bailey found 33-year-old Javon Riley guilty of the attempted murder of three men and causing grievous bodily harm to the girl. While Riley did not fire the weapon, the Metropolitan Police's investigation proved he was the mastermind. The evidence showed he was central to planning the attack and helping the gunman evade capture.

The verdict has provided a sense of relief for the family; however, they live with the trauma every single day. Their dreams were shattered in an instant.

“In a single moment, the future we had imagined for our daughter was torn away. She was once an energetic, adventurous child — everything that celebrated movement, energy, and life. Now, weakness on her left side means she can only watch from the sidelines, living with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet still in her brain. As parents, we are shattered — emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially,” Lissel's mother, Vinaya, said in a statement released by the London Metropolitan Police, which carried out the investigation.

Ajeesh and Vinaya, IT professionals from Gothuruth in Chendamangalam panchayat, moved to Birmingham two years ago. The incident occurred on the bustling evening of May 29, 2024, at a Turkish restaurant in Dalston, East London. Ajeesh and Vinaya watched in horror as their daughter collapsed after being hit by a bullet. After multiple surgeries, Lissel's shattered skull was fixed with a titanium plate, but the bullet remains lodged in her brain. The life-altering injuries have also affected her cognitive abilities.

Mary Paul, Lissel’s grandmother in Gothuruth, recounts those days in horror. While she is relieved to hear the verdict, she is still worried about Lissel’s health and prays for her recovery. “Lissel’s one side is paralysed. She is undergoing treatment in London, but the progress is slow. Though she resumed her schooling with the help of a full-time personal assistant, her life will never be the same. My son, Ajeesh, is yet to recover from the shock of the incident. They are planning to come to Kerala to try Ayurvedic treatment here,” she said.

Bincy Solomon, a former member of the Kadalvathuruth ward in Chendamangalam and an acquaintance of Paul’s family, still remembers the day they received the news of the attack. “At that time, only Mary was at the house, and the news was way too shocking for her, though we all were there to console her. It’s good to know the court has convicted the accused, and we hope they will nab the shooters soon. Our entire village is praying for Lissel’s recovery,” Solomon said.

Detective Inspector Ben Dalloway of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation, described Riley's actions as a traumatic act that “altered the trajectory of a little girl's life.” He emphasised that the successful prosecution was a testament to the "painstaking and meticulous investigation" conducted by his team. “While this outcome serves as a sliver of justice, the dangerous individual responsible for pulling the trigger remains on our streets. Justice must be secured for this little girl and her family.” Dalloway said.

In her statement, Vinaya said that the family has been grappling with the physical, emotional, and financial aftermath of the shooting. Every day the young couple faces new challenges, from Lissel’s slower growth on one side to the emotional and mental scars that cannot be seen.

“The world we once believed was safe for our child now feels frightening and uncertain. We live with this pain every day, knowing nothing will ever be the same for our family,” Vinaya said.

 Despite the conviction, the search for the gunman remains a top priority for the police. The firearm used in the attack has not been recovered. The Metropolitan Police is offering a significant financial reward of up to £15,000 for any information that leads to the identification and arrest of the person who pulled the trigger.