Teenagers guilty of murdering 'gentle soul' Umar Tufail in drive-by shooting in South Norwood

Umar Tufail, 25, from South Norwood, was shot in the head moments after climbing into his car in Wharncliffe Road, South Norwood on July 15 last year.

Best friends Kyrone Daley and Sanchez Thomas, both 19, were today convicted of plotting to kill Mr Tufail - described by his family as "a gentle soul".

During a four-week trial at the Old Bailey, a jury heard how the pair had "deliberately executed" Mr Tufail - whose younger brother Amir had a running feud with Daley.

Daley, of Unity Close, Upper Norwood and Thomas, of no fixed address, pulled up in car alongside the Vauxhall Corsa Mr Tufail shared with his family, before one of them shot him in the head with a handgun.

Thomas then drove away in a car a borrowed from his mother, with Daley in the passenger seat.

During the trial, the court heard how Daley had tried to put the blame on Thomas, who himself claimed a third man - known as 'Pauser' - had murdered Mr Tufail.

But both were found guilty of murder as joint enterprise - even though who pulled the trigger has never been identified.

At the beginning of the trial, jurors were played CCTV footage showing Thomas and Daley travelling by car from Unity Close to Umar's neighbourhood.

Prosecutor William Boyce told jurors: "Two young men have driven through south London with a real, loaded gun. One of them has then deliberately executed a young man.

"You do not shoot someone in the head unless you intend to kill him.

"And you would not even think of doing that with someone sat next to you unless he was in it with you."

Umar's father, Sajid, described his son as "a very nice guy, a gentle soul."

He added: "He gave without asking for anything in return.

"He was a very positive guy and so caring and popular. They loved him at work, he learnt everything. They said he was indispensible."

Daley and Sanchez will be sentenced tomorrow. Visit the Croydon Guardian website tomorrow for the result.