An alleged killer has denied murdering a woman who was attending a wake in a drive-by shooting outside a church.
Michelle Sadio, 46, was gunned down outside the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church on Gifford Road, Harlesden, northwest London on December 14, 2024.
Several shots were fired into the grieving crowd from the window of a stolen car before it sped off, and was later disposed of, a court heard.
Ms Sadio was among 120 mourners congregated outside the church when the deadly attack took place with gunfire coming from a dark-coloured Kia at around 9.10pm.
Tragically the 46-year-old died as she stepped out of the venue to take a breather and was shot just while two others were injured.
The wake was being held in memory of Dianne Boatong, 80, who was the mother of one of Ms Sadio’s school friends and who had passed away on December 5 and mourners had gathered outside the church.
A group of young men and teenagers were barred from entering the event because they were intoxicated before congregating around the venue before the drive-by shooting took place.
Ben Holt, prosecuting, earlier said: ‘On 14 December a wake was taking place at the River of Life Pentecostal Church on Gifford Road.
‘The wake was being held in memory of Dianne Boatong; a lady of 80 years.
‘At approximately 5pm a group of youngsters arrived at the venue. They were not allowed to enter as some were smoking and drinking alcohol.
‘A group began to congregate around the immediate local area of the church
‘Shortly after 9.10pm a dark Kia motor vehicle was driven to the area of the wake. It was driven around the local streets before stopping in Gifford Road; adjacent to the group of people.
‘A number of shots were fired from that vehicle into the crowd, before it drove away. Michelle Sadio was fatally injured and died at the scene.’
Mr Amoah was shot in the back, while Mr Francis was shot in the foot, the crowd was large and there were people of all ages in the congregation, the court heard.
Perry Allen-Thomas, 26, Shaquille Sutherland, 24, Tahjin Sommersal, 18, and Amir Salem, 18, are charged with murdering Ms Sadio and the attempted murders of Kenneth Amoah, 39, and Kadeem Francis, 30.
Allen-Thomas, Sutherland and Salem, all from Wembley, west London, were not in the car at the time of the shooting but it is claimed they helped organise the attack and to burn the stolen Kia motor vehicle afterwards.
Salem appeared at the Old Bailey and denied murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Sutherland and Sommersall appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh while Allen-Thomas did not attend.
Allen, Sutherland and Sommersal previously denied murder and two counts of attempted murder.
A six-week trial before a High Court judge is due to begin on 27 January.
A video of the incident shows the car pull-up and many of the churchgoers fleeing and ducking for cover, as seven gunshots ring out.
‘These defendants are not said to have been in the car at the time of the killing itself, they were involved in the planning and preparation of the shooting,’ said Mr Holt.
The prosecution alleges that all three were also involved in arranging for the stolen Kia motor vehicle to be burnt after the attack, including buying petrol for the fire.
Sommersal, of Feltham, denies murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Allen-Thomas, Sutherland, and Salem, all of Wembley, deny murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Following the deadly shooting Pastor Lawrence Larbie, of the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church, said there was a wake going on inside the church which was due to finish at 10pm. But at around 9.15pm people began rushing into the building saying ‘there’s been a shooting’.
He told MyLondon: ‘The car just drove through. The victims were people attending the wake. They were probably on their way home.’
Pastor Larbie said he was ‘devastated’ by the news, adding ‘you are invited to attend the wake and you end up deceased. You’re killed. You’re gone. You’re life is expired just like that.’
Pastor Lawrence Larbie, of the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church, said there was a wake going on inside the church which was due to finish at 10pm. But at around 9.15pm people began rushing into the building saying ‘there’s been a shooting’.
He told MyLondon: ‘The car just drove through. The victims were people attending the wake. They were probably on their way home.’
Pastor Larbie said he was ‘devastated’ by the news, adding ‘you are invited to attend the wake and you end up deceased. You’re killed. You’re gone. You’re life is expired just like that.’
Paying tribute to Michelle, a friend described her as ‘brilliant’.
She told The Sun: ‘She was a light in all of our lives. She adored her children and worked hard to give them a happy life.’