Hitman Jailed For 'Medieval Turf War' Murder

A hitman - known as Freddy after the Nightmare On Elm Street film character - has been jailed for at least 38 years for murdering a gang boss and then shooting his accomplice in north London.

Jamie Marsh-Smith was hired to kill Zafer Eren of the Tottenham Turks gang by rival group the Hackney Turks.

After the murder in April 2013, Marsh-Smith then attempted to kill his getaway driver, Samuel Zerei.

The 23-year-old, of Manor House, was found guilty of murder and two attempted murders at the Old Bailey.

Zerei, 21, of Newington Green, was found guilty of murder.

Judge John Bevan QC said the killing was part of a long-standing feud between the two Turkish gangs which has resulted in 26 separate violent epsiodes, many involving the use of guns.

"The use of the streets of this city for fighting a medieval turf war using hired hands as hitmen is as intolerable as it is unacceptable," he said.

Marsh-Smith was jailed for life with a minimum term of 38 years for murder and 30 years for each of the attempted murders to run concurrently.

Zerei was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years.

Following the sentencing, Zafer Eren's wife said: "This has had a devastating impact on our life. Our baby was only 26 days old when Zafer was killed on my doorstep."

Prosecutor Edward Brown QC said the hit began in December 2012 when Marsh-Smith attempted to kill the murdered gangster's cousin Inan Eren on his doorstep.

He then went into a block of flats in Southgate and fired seven shots at Zafer Eren, hitting him three times in the back.

Marsh-Smith then targeted his getaway driver who "knew the truth", Mr Brown said.

Pavlos Panayi QC, defending Zerei, said his client was now a "marked man" in prison.

The Metropolitan Police said it was still trying to catch those who ordered the hit on Mr Eren.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: "The conduct of Jamie Marsh-Smith and Samuel Zerei reads like something from a film.

"They accepted a contract to kill; they had no known dispute with their victim.

"Our investigation continues into Zafer Eren's murder as we seek to find those responsible for ordering the killing."

On Friday, Marsh-Smith's half-brother Wayne McNeish was jailed for four-and-a-half years for perverting the course of justice by helping the hitman evade police.

Last week, the jury failed to reach verdicts on two further defendants - Christopher Annan, 23, and Tyrone Wright, 19 - accused of the attempted murder of Inan Eren. A decision will be made on whether they will face a retrial.

Crown Prosecution Service London Chief Crown Prosecutor Baljit Ubhey said: "Gang crime is a significant driver of violent crime in the capital and I am committed to tackling this menacing form of offending.

"These two gangs have been feuding for at least five years, and their mutual hatred has caused unnecessary pain and bloodshed on both sides."