Gang members get life after shooting little girl in shop

THREE men jailed for life for a gang-related shooting that left a five-year-old girl paralysed were told yesterday their ruthless crime was “an attack on society itself”.

Nathaniel Grant, Anthony McCalla and Kazeem Kolawole were given life sentences at the Old Bailey for gunning down Thusha Kamaleswaran at her aunt’s south London shop in March last year.

They were hunting for a rival gang member when Grant opened fire into the store, hitting shopper Roshan Selvakumar in the face and Thusha in the chest.

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Passing sentence yesterday Judge Martin Stephens QC told them: “Not one of you has, in my judgment, shown a sliver of remorse.”

The trio were found guilty last month of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Thusha and Mr Selvakumar, as well as attempted murder of their intended victim Roshaun Bryan.

Grant, 21, of Camberwell, south east London, will serve a minimum of 17 years, and Kolawole, 19, of Kennington, south east London, and McCalla, 20, of Streatham, south London, at least 14 years.

The judge said litle Thusha was dancing around with her family in the shop when she was hit in the body, adding: “Only the skill and devotion of the medical teams who became involved saved her life but she remains paralysed below her chest and this condition is permanent.

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“This simple but devastating statement of the essential facts of the case illustrate the gravity of these offences.”

Kolawole has a previous conviction for affray; McCalla for robbery, affray, possessing an offensive weapon with intent and violent disorder; and Grant for robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

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