A 17-year-old has been found guilty of the murder of Magda Pniewska, a Polish nursing assistant, who was caught in the crossfire of a gun battle in South London last year.

Armel Gnango was exchanging gunshots across a car park with a youth wearing a red bandana over his face when the 26-year-old healthcare worker was inadvertently shot in the head.

Miss Pniewska died while she was on the phone with her sister, who heard the fatal shot and her sister's final breath.

The nursing assistant had moved from Poland to England where she worked in a London nursing home. Her mother Barbara, who still lives in eastern Europe, said the family was devastated to have lost their “loving” daughter.

“The ray of sunshine which was Magda, has gone from our family,” she said.

Gnango was involved in a shoot-out with another teenager on steps leading to housing estate on John Williams Close, New Cross when Miss Pniewska was shot dead.

Brian Altman QC, the prosecutor, said the teenagers were firing their weapons oblivious to anyone else in the area.

Both gunmen ran from the area unharmed as Miss Pniewska fell to the ground, dropping her mobile telephone and shopping bags. Police found that at least four or five shots were fired and later discovered the two 9mm pistols used in the fight.

Gnango denied murder, but was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury despite the fact that the deadly shot was fired by the other teenager. Jurors were told that although he did not shoot the carer, he was criminally culpable because he was jointly involved in the unlawful violence which led to Miss Pniewska’s murder.

A second youth was arrested but not charged. He was named by Gnango, but denied being involved. The court heard that the police had insufficient evidence to charge him.

Miss Pniewska lived close to the estate with her partner Radoslaw Lipka and was taking a short-cut home when she stumbled upon the two strangers involved in a gunfight.

The couple’s families were in court for part of the trial but flew home before the end. Miss Pniewska’s sister told the jury about the last phone call the two shared. As the pistol shots rang out, Elzbieta Luby, known as Ella, asked her sister: “What’s happening there. Who’s shooting? What’s going on?”

She said her sister, who was then walking up some steps towards a field, had replied: “Ella, just wait a minute.” It was then Ms Luby heard the final, fatal shot.

“I heard the last breath of Magda. I heard when she fell down, I heard the bags fall down. There was silence for a minute and then I heard two more shots,” she said.

Gnango, who pleaded not guilty and claimed he had never held a gun before, was remanded in custody until June 23 when he will be given a life term with a minimum number of years he will serve.

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