London: A man who orchestrated a drive-by shooting in north-east London that left a nine-year-old Kerala girl with life-changing injuries has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Old Bailey court on Friday ordered 33-year-old Javon Riley to serve a minimum of 34 years before being eligible for parole. He was found guilty of the attempted murder of three men and grievous bodily harm to the child, who was struck in the head by a stray bullet.

The incident happened on May 29, 2024, outside a restaurant in Dalston, East London. The girl, Lissel Maria, daughter of Ajeesh and Vinaya from Gothuruth, Kochi, was enjoying ice cream with her parents when she was caught in the crossfire of a gang rivalry. She was never the intended target.

Doctors rebuilt part of her skull with titanium, but a bullet remains lodged in her brain. Lissel, once an energetic and adventurous child, now struggles with weakness on her left side and faces lasting physical and cognitive challenges.

“This sentence is a reminder that justice can be served, but it will never undo the suffering caused to her or her family,” said Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation. “The man who pulled the trigger is still at large, and we are determined to find him.”

Police renewed their appeal for information, urging witnesses to come forward.

During the trial, prosecutors said the Tottenham Turks gang ordered the shooting in an attempt to kill rival Hackney Turks members sitting outside the restaurant. Riley did not fire the gun himself but played a key role in planning the attack, including scouting the location and studying traffic patterns.

Lissel’s mother, in a statement through the Met Police, said the family’s life had been torn apart:
“In a single moment, the future we had imagined for our daughter was gone. She now lives with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet in her brain. As parents, we are shattered—emotionally, physically, and financially.”