Christopher George, 26, was gunned down in a residential street in July 2020, reports James Cracknell

The four people convicted over the killing of Christopher George, clockwise from top left; Roshane Watson (guilty of murder), Leo Donaldson (guilty of manslaughter), Gizem Ozbahadir (guilty of murder), and Terrique Tomlin (guilty of manslaughter)

Four people have been jailed for a total of 74 years for their role in the killing of a 26-year-old father-of-two in Edmonton.

Christopher George died after being shot in Sebastopol Road on 29th July 2020. Two people – 25-year-old Roshane Watson from Edmonton and 23-year-old Gizem Ozbahadir from Waltham Cross – were found guilty of Christopher’s murder following a trial in March. Two others – 28-year-old Leo Donaldson from Haringey and 18-year-old Terrique Tomlin from Ilford – were found guilty of manslaughter.

Watson, who was originally identified by detectives when they found a music video he had starred in on YouTube and linked his clothing to that seen in CCTV footage from the day of the killing, was the person who gunned Christopher down. The victim was shot in the chest in Sebastopol Road, not far from Edmonton Police Station, where he was on his way to meet an associate involved in his business selling designer bags and shoes. Ozbahadir, meanwhile, had hired one of the two vehicles that were used to follow Christopher before he was killed.

At a sentencing hearing this week, Watson was jailed for 32 years for murder, 20 years for possession of a firearm with intent to engender life, and four years for perverting the course of justice; Ozbahadir was jailed for 23 years for murder; Donaldson was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for manslaughter; and Tomlin was sentenced to eleven years’ imprisonment for manslaughter.

A fifth defendant, Nathaniel Donaldson, aged 22 of Ponders End, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation in relation to the hire of the second vehicle that was used in the murder and has been sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

As he handed down his sentences to the five guilty parties, Judge Lucas told Wood Green Crown Court: “This was a murder in cold blood. The events immediately before Mr George was murdered demonstrates the calculated nature of his killing and are significant in determining the appropriate sentence to pass in this case.

“Despite the wish on the part of Mr George’s family to know why their son and brother was killed in the way in which he was, none of the defendants has had the courage or grace to inform them.”

In a statement, Christopher’s family said: “Christopher was a loving son, a caring brother to his three siblings, and a devoted father to his two young daughters, the youngest being only three months when he was killed.

“We know that nothing will bring Christopher back, but seeing those responsible for his death being convicted brings a little bit of comfort and closure.”

Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke said: “I am pleased that those responsible for this brutal crime will now spend a significant period of time behind bars.

“Their convictions and sentencing are as a result of diligent, tenacious police work by a team of experienced homicide detectives. Our investigation revealed a significant amount of planning and co-ordination that went into this attack; an attack to which none of those involved has given a reason for carrying out.

“The actions of those involved has had a devastating impact on Christopher’s friends and family who must live for the rest of their lives dealing with the consequences of this senseless attack.”

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