**Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Joanne Penney in Talbot Green Shooting**
A woman from Leicester has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Joanne Penney, a mother who was shot and killed in Talbot Green earlier this year. The high-profile case, which has drawn significant attention in South Wales, saw eight individuals appear before the courts this week, all denying charges related to the tragic incident.
During a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, 39-year-old Melissa Quailey-Dashper formally denied any involvement in the murder of Joanne Penney, who was discovered with fatal gunshot wounds to her chest on 9 March. Ms Quailey-Dashper also rejected a separate charge, which accused her of participating in the activities of the alleged ‘Rico’ organised crime group between March of last year and March this year.
The presiding judge, Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, confirmed that a trial is scheduled to proceed on 20 October. The case is shaping up to be a complex legal battle, given the number of defendants and the serious nature of the charges involved.
Earlier in the week, seven other people appeared in court in connection with the same case. They include Joshua Gordon, 27; Marcus Huntley, 20; Jordan Mills-Smith, 33; Kristina Ginova, 21; and Tony Porter, 68. Like Quailey-Dashper, all five pleaded not guilty both to the charge of murder and to allegations of acting within the framework of the same organised crime group during the specified timeframe.
Additionally, Sai Raj Manne, 25, and Molly Cooper, 33, denied charges connected to firearms and ammunition offences. Mr Manne, of no fixed address, is accused of illegally possessing an 8mm calibre self-loading pistol that had been modified to fire live ammunition. Ms Cooper, hailing from Leicester, faces allegations of unauthorised possession of 16 live 8mm calibre blank pistol cartridges, which prosecutors claim were reloaded with projectiles, all without the requisite firearms certification.
All eight defendants have been remanded in custody while they await the next steps in court proceedings. The depth and breadth of the investigation, as well as the number of people accused, indicate a case that has gripped the local area and left many searching for answers.
Details emerging from the inquest into Joanne Penney’s death have provided a harrowing account of her final moments. The hearing, which opened in March, was told that Ms Penney was shot in the chest inside a residence at Llys Illtyd, Talbot Green, resulting in catastrophic injuries to her heart and lung. Emergency services attended the scene but were unable to save her life.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ms Penney’s family released a heartfelt statement that captured the deep sense of loss felt by loved ones and the community. “We are devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved Joanne,” the family said in their tribute. “She was a daughter, mother, sister and niece – loved deeply by all who knew her. Her kindness, strength and love for her family will never be forgotten.”
The local community of Talbot Green, still reeling from the shock of the incident, awaits the unfolding of legal proceedings with a high degree of interest and concern. This incident has reignited conversations about violent crime and organised criminal activity in South Wales, topics that continue to generate national debate.
Further court hearings are expected in the coming months, as relatives of Ms Penney and members of the public hope for answers and justice in a case that has left a profound impact on Talbot Green and beyond.