A shocking twist in a court case as Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, denies murdering Joanne Penney, who was tragically shot in the heart at point-blank range. Appearing in Cardiff Crown Court, Quailey-Dashper claims she was coerced into knocking on the victim’s door, having been threatened with a gun.
Joanne Penney, also 40, was fatally shot when she answered her door at Llys Illtyd in Talbot Green on 9th March this year. Prosecutors argue the incident was a deadly outcome of a clash between rival criminal gangs entangled in a turf war over drugs.
Marcus Huntley, 21, has already confessed to murder, but Quailey-Dashper and four others maintain their innocence. She testified that she was the “muppet” who knocked on the door, driven by fear for her life.
In court, Quailey-Dashper recounted her harrowing experience. She said she was driven to Cardiff on the day of the murder by her partner Tony Porter along with her drug dealer. Upon arriving, she claims Huntley threatened her, brandishing a gun and forcing her to knock on Penney’s door.
“When I saw the gun, I was terrified,” she said. She reported hearing a “loud bang” after being instructed to move away from the door, prompting her to flee in panic.
The trial continues as Quailey-Dashper’s defence argues her involvement was under duress and fuelled by fear and addiction. As more gripping courtroom revelations unfold, the question remains: what really happened behind that door?
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing case.