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Teenager found guilty of shooting dead Kenichi Phillips in Birmingham

A man who shot dead a teenager as he sat in a parked car in Birmingham earlier this year has been convicted of murder.

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Disharn Downie was part of a group that opened fire at the Seat Ibiza on St Marks Crescent in Ladywood on March 17.

One of the bullets struck 17-year-old front seat passenger Kenichi Phillips in the jaw and neck.

Luckily the other two occupants were not hit and got out of the vehicle unharmed.

All three men quickly ran away from the car after escaping through the driver's door but Kenichi collapsed in a nearby alleyway.

Passersby who witnessed what had happened tried to revive him - as did paramedics - but nothing could be done to save him and he died at the scene.

At Birmingham Crown Court today he was found guilty of murdering Kenichi as well as attempted murder and attempted grievous bodily harm in relation to the other two occupants of the car.

Kenichi Phillips and the scene of the shooting

The 18-year-old, of Gravel Bank, Bartley Green was also convicted of possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and robbery - in relation to a separate matter a few weeks before the killing.

His co-accused Dean Silvera, aged 37, of St Giles Close, Rowley Regis was cleared of murder but found guilty of assisting an offender.

The pair will be sentenced on November 28.

Speaking afterwards Detective Inspector Jim Munro, who led the investigation, said: "Disharn Downie a showed complete disregard for human life when he fired those shots into that car and it's only through luck alone that others weren't seriously hurt as a result of his actions.

"I'm glad that the jury were able to see that this was nothing short of a calculated and pre-meditated murder by Downie.

"My thoughts are now with Kenichi Phillips' family who I hope find some comfort in today's convictions."

DI Munro said West Midlands Police remains commited to tackling gun crime.

He added: "We have teams which are dedicated to dealing with gun and gang crime and have made some significant arrests and seizures of firearms and ammunition over the last few months.

"Recent court cases have shown that gun criminals can expect to spend many, many years behind bars - police and the courts simply won't tolerate the use or possession of illegal firearms."

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