Five Sentenced for Roles in Talbot Green Murder
Five individuals involved in the murder of Joanne Penney, who was fatally shot during a drugs turf war, have been sentenced but avoided additional prison time.
Joanne Penney was killed in March 2025 by a gunshot to the chest after opening the door at a residence in Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where she had been staying.
Callum Kelleher, 37, Sai Manne, 26, and Molly Cooper, 34, were convicted of participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group. Donna James, 51, and Laura John, 23, were found guilty of assisting an offender.
This sentencing follows a previous trial where six individuals received life sentences for Penney's murder.
Penney had been staying with friends at an address on Llys Illtyd, Talbot Green, when she was shot by Marcus Huntley, 22, a drug dealer from Cardiff.
The firearm used in the attack was delivered to Huntley from Leicester to execute a revenge attack after a confrontation with a rival drug dealer at the same location.
Jordan Mills-Smith, 34, from Cardiff; Leicester trio Joshua Gordon, 28, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, and Kristina Ginova, 22; along with drug gang leader Renaldo Baptiste, who orchestrated the attack from prison, were previously convicted of Penney's murder as part of the drugs turf conflict.
Both trials revealed that weeks prior to the murder, Huntley and Mills-Smith, acting on behalf of Leicester drug boss Gordon and his Rico crime group, had placed drug dealer Sai Manne at 10 Llys Illtyd.
Manne was subsequently beaten and humiliated by a member of the rival gang, prompting Huntley and Gordon to procure a firearm for retaliation.
Laura John, Donna James, and Molly Cooper were convicted of offences connected to Joanne Penney's murder.
Following the shooting, Huntley and Mills-Smith fled Cardiff but were later apprehended.
Mills-Smith's mother, Donna James, 51, from Llanishen, and his girlfriend, Laura John, 23, from Rhiwbina, assisted him after the shooting by helping him travel to London.
Molly Cooper, 34, from Leicester, supported Gordon's drug operations by driving him, collecting cash, and receiving payment in drugs and money.
Her DNA was also found on the ammunition used in Penney's shooting, which was later discovered buried in a Cardiff park.
The court heard that Callum Kelleher, 37, from Liverpool, had been "cuckooed" by the Rico crime group, allowing them to use his Cardiff property for drug dealing.
Sai Manne, 26, was placed by Gordon at Kelleher's address to sell drugs but was once assaulted by Kelleher in a "punishment beating" after consuming drugs he was supposed to sell.
Sentencing, the judge stated that Manne, Kelleher, and Cooper all played a "subordinate role" in the Rico crime group, executing Gordon's orders but also suffering punishment or exploitation by the drug boss.
Sai Manne, described as an "established runner who was selling crack cocaine," received a 27-month prison sentence but is now eligible for release on license due to time served.
Molly Cooper was sentenced on two counts: participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group after pleading guilty, and acquiring ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.
Judge Fordham imposed concurrent custodial sentences of 12 months and 30 months, with Cooper also eligible for immediate release on license following her pre-trial custody.
Different gangs used 10 Llys Illtyd in Talbot Green to sell drugs.
Callum Kelleher was described by the judge as having "a list of mental health conditions and difficulties" that led to him being "targeted and exploited by other people," fitting the definition of a "victim of modern slavery."
Considering these mitigating factors, he received a 16-month sentence suspended for 18 months and a £500 financial penalty.
Laura John and Donna James were said by the judge to have "damaged the interests of justice" by aiding Mills-Smith in arranging transport out of Cardiff in an attempt to evade capture.
However, both acted under Mills-Smith's "direction" and were not given custodial sentences. John received a 20-month sentence suspended for two years, and James a 24-month sentence suspended for two years.
