Willesden Drive-By Murder: Two Men Receive Life Sentences for Michelle Sadio Killing

Two men have been handed life sentences for the murder of Michelle Sadio, a mother-of-two who was fatally shot in a drive-by attack outside a wake in north-west London.

Mrs Sadio, 44, died at the scene at the River of Life Pentecostal Church in Willesden on 14 December 2024, after a vehicle approached and four shots were fired into the gathering. Another mourner sustained a spinal injury, leading to paralysis below the waist.

At the Old Bailey, Perry Allen-Thomas, 27, a known drug dealer, received a minimum term of 38 years. Amir Salem, 20, was sentenced to a minimum of 26 years. Presiding over the case, Mrs Justice McGowan stated that “a murder was intended and planned” and condemned the defendants’ involvement in a “terrifying tragedy”.

The court heard that the gathering, a wake for 80-year-old Dianne Boatong, primarily involved members of the Ghanaian community. The intended target of the shooting was identified as rapper Adetokunbo Ajibola, also known as Trapstar Toxic.

Salem, then 18, was captured on CCTV purchasing petrol for the stolen vehicle, which bore false number-plates and was later torched. Allen-Thomas, who has a history of drug convictions and gang affiliations, was deemed to have orchestrated the shooting by recruiting younger gang members, deliberately absenting himself from the scene at approximately 21:00 GMT. The firearm used in the attack was described as a “gang gun,” having been deployed in two previous incidents.

The individual who fired the weapon remains unconfirmed, with two other men implicated in the attack having fled the country and remaining at large. Two other defendants, Shaquille Sutherland and Tahjin Sommersall, were acquitted.

Jean-Marie Sadio, the victim’s widower, delivered an impact statement in court, describing his wife as “the pillar” of his family. He extended forgiveness to the defendants, urging them to seek change.