Teen who murdered Lianne Gordon in Hackney jailed for life

Joshua Alexander, 17, was jailed for life with a minimum of 29 years for the murder of Lianne Gordon.

Ms Gordon, 42, was the unintended victim of a dispute between two gangs when she was murdered in her home in Vine Close, Hackney, last December. 

On the evening of December 5, 2023, Ms Gordon’s son Kaymound was in the shower and her daughter came out of her room when she heard what she thought were fireworks.

Ms Gordon died at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the head while two other victims outside were treated in hospital.

The shooting was alleged to be the culmination of a series of incidents involving rival gangs.

Alexander, of Wellington Road in East Ham, had denied being the gunman but was found guilty in October of Ms Gordon’s murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.

A jury found him guilty of attempting to kill a 17-year-old boy and 21-year-old man who were shot in the street during the same incident.

Alexander was also convicted of affray, having a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a bladed article, and possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

Joshua Alexander (Image: Met Police) On Monday, a judge lifted a reporting restriction on naming Alexander, who turns 18 in February.

Judge David Aubrey KC said the background to the case was “sadly all too familiar”.

Delivering his sentencing remarks, Judge Aubrey said: “It is one of turf wars, territory, violence between rival gangs and consequential tragedy and grief.”

Addressing Alexander in the dock, Judge Aubrey told him: “You murdered an innocent woman who was behind her front door in her own home.

“Her home should have been a sanctuary, a place of safety. It was, however, where she met her death at your hands while you were in possession of a firearm.”

The judge said Alexander was “on a mission" that night to execute members of an opposing gang.

He told Alexander: “You have shown no remorse whatsoever. Notwithstanding that you have murdered an innocent person in her own home who was not the intended target.”

The judge said this was illustrated by rap lyrics found in his prison cell in January that were “glorifying” his crimes.

Judge Aubrey said Alexander had “devastated” Ms Gordon’s family and caused them “unimaginable grief”.

Ms Gordon’s twin sister, Louise, described her as “a force of nature” and said “everything has been destroyed, shattered and broken” since her death.

Lianne Gordon (Image: Met Police) In a victim impact statement, she told the court: “I feel like I have lost my other half.

“She had nothing but love for me, as she did for everyone who was lucky enough to be in her circle.”

Ms Gordon’s sister added: “I feel like I’m underwater most days trying to stay afloat. My mind is still in constant turmoil.”

She said her twin was “shot like a gangster” in her own home, adding: “This gun crime has ripped a hole in my family and there is nothing we can do about it.”

Family members in court cheered and said “yes” as the sentence was passed down by the judge, while another person in the public gallery shouted “rot in hell”.

Prosecutor Mark Fenhalls KC said the incidents resulted from a dispute between two Hackney gangs, including the Pembury Gang with which Alexander was associated.

Alexander had a series of previous convictions dating back to when he was 15 years old.

At the time of the shooting, Alexander had been on bail with conditions not to enter Hackney. He was later convicted of attempted murder relating to an incident on March 1 last year in which he acted as a scout as a man was shot and stabbed at Hackney Central station.