Dialo Hall was jailed for 20 years following a lengthy polic investigation
The testimony of a teenage witness helped jail a man for 20 years yesterday for the murder of a mechanic 13 years ago in Brixton.
Dialo Hall, 33, was jailed at Southwark Crown Court for murdering Denis Cowan, 27, in daylight in October 2000.
Old Bailey Judge Nicholas Browne yesterday spoke of how Shadene Sang, only 19 at the time, braved intimidation to provide evidence. She was given £1000 from public funds.
“Without Shadene Sang’s evidence the Crown could not have proceeded,” he said.
“She was young and vulnerable – and a vital eyewitness to murder. But she had the strength and courage to tell of what she saw.”
An argument on Coldharbour Lane around 6pm on October 2 2000 resulted in Hall shooting the father of one with a handgun, before firing an extra two or three times at his head while he lay on the floor outside a post office.
An investigation was launched and in 2002 Trident Gang Crime Command detectives traced Hall to a remand centre in Jamaica where he was using a fake name.
In July 2012 he was extradited from Jamaica, arrested for murder at Gatwick airport, and charged later that day.
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling, of the Trident Gang Crime Command, said: “It has taken 13 years to secure the conviction of this violent man, a man who shot Mr Cowan in the head while he was lying on the ground.
“It is a perfect example to illustrate that no matter how much time has passed, or how far a suspect is willing to flee, the Met remains committed to finding those responsible for violent crime. It should send a stark warning to those people who have little regard for others, that you will be caught.”
Follow us @SW_Londoner
