A robber was jailed for 30 years for accidentally shooting dead his accomplice as they tried to steal a cache of fake Rolex watches.
Daniel Tesfay, 27, blasted Jonathan Barnes, 20, in the head during the bungled raid.
The pair were hoping to steal three Submariner watches from Jordaan Williams at his home in Croydon in August last year after first agreeing to buy them for £6,500.
But in fact, Mr Williams had bought them over the internet for £118 each to dupe unsuspecting buyers. During the deal Barnes suddenly said to his accomplice: “Let’s do it.” Tesfay produced a loaded semi-automatic pistol, pressed it against Mr Williams’s chest saying: “Do you know who I am, I’m Murder Mike, I’ll blow your chest off, I’ll shoot you.”
As the pair tried to escape, Mr Williams grabbed Barnes. Tesfay tried to shoot the seller but pulled the trigger as his friend stepped into his path. Tesfay fled the scene. He claimed he and Barnes had themselves been victims of a violent robbery, but was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey.
Jailing him for life with a minimum term of 30 years, Judge Paul Worlsey said there was no mitigation for his crime.
