A MUM-OF-FOUR was shot dead on her doorstep in a case of mistaken identity amid a turf war between rival gangs, a court heard.
Innocent , 40, was gunned down as she opened the door of a South Wales flat on March 9 earlier this year.
Joanne Penny, 40, was shot dead in a chilling case of mistaken identity, a court heardCredit: WNS
Emergency services were called to the Talbot Green property at around 6pm on March 9Credit: WNS
The mum-of-four was tragically pronounced at the sceneCredit: PA
Cardiff Crown heard a bullet was fired into Joanne’s chest at nearly point-blank range at around 6pm.
The mum-of-four managed to get herself back inside before collapsing.
were called to the property, in Llys Illtyd, Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, but Joanne was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Jonathan Rees KC, prosecuting, alleged rival gangs had been operating in .
The flat had been associated with drug trade, and was owned by a woman named Katie Summers.
Ms Summers’ brother was at the address when the shooting occurred, the court heard.
Marcus Huntley and Kristina Ginova, both aged 21, Joshua Gordon, 27, Tony Porter, 68, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, and Jordan Mills-Smith, 33, have all been accused of murder.
Mr Rees told the jury: “On March 9 2025, Joanne Penney opened the front door of 10 Llys Illtyd, Green Park, Talbot Green, and she was instantly shot to the heart with a single bullet fired from a handgun at close range.
“She barely managed to stagger back to the living room of the address before falling to the floor and dying moments later.
“The background to the killing was a clash of rival organised crime groups.”
The court heard how one gang, dubbed the Rico OCG, was led by Joshua Gordon – known as Rico/Reece.
His girlfriend, Kristina Ginova, was also involved in the ring, Mr Rees told the court.
Their operations were based in Leicester but had recently reached South Wales.
Meanwhile, the other gang was headed by Daniel ‘Jimmy’ Joseph.
“The expansion by Mr Gordon into South Wales and Talbot Green had not been taken well by a rival group of drug dealers led by Daniel Joseph who also operated in the area,” Mr Rees said.
In the lead-up to Joanne’s death, Joseph and his men had targeted members of the Rico group twice.
On the night of the shock shooting, Porter took Gordon, Huntley, Mills-Smith and Quailey-Dashper to Talbot Green, the jury heard.
Gordon and Porter remained in the car while the rest went to the flat Joanne was in.
The court heard the was linked to the drug trade.
Meanwhile, Ginova waited at a Cardiff fast food restaurant with Gordon’s mobile phone.
Mr Rees told the court: “Miss Quailey-Dashper knocked the front door and then retreated while Mr Huntley, who was standing alongside Mr Mills-Smith, leaned forward and immediately shot at the person that opened the door.
“Miss Quailey-Dashper, Mr Huntley and Mr Mills-Smith ran quickly back to the car where Mr Porter and Mr Gordon waited before Mr Porter drove away.”
Mr Rees added: “The trigger may have been pulled by Marcus Huntley, but the prosecution’s case is that each of Joshua Gordon, Marcus Huntley, Jordan Mills-Smith, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, Kristina Ginova and Tony Porter are jointly responsible for her murder.
“They each played their part in the death of Joanna Penney – knowing that they were acting to bring about, or assisting or encouraging others to bring about, at least really serious injury to another person.
“Miss Penney was not specifically targeted – the plan was to shoot someone at the address in which (a man) was attacked and from which they were prevented from selling drugs.”
The jury heard how Huntley sent Snapchat messages to a friend saying he was looking at a “long time in jail” if he couldn’t flee the UK.
“When she challenged him, he merely shrugged off the murder of Ms Penney, calling her a ‘crackhead’,” Mr Rees said.
The court heard Huntley sent more messages in which he claimed his “runner” had been “set up” and tortured by the rival gang.
The six defendants on trial for murder all deny the charges.
Gordon, Quailey-Dashper, Ginova, and Porter deny a second charge of participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group between March 2024 and March 2025.
Huntley and Mills-Smith have pleaded guilty to that charge.
The trial continues.
Six people are on trial accused of Joanne’s murderCredit: WNS
The court heard the property Joanne was in was linked to drug tradeCredit: Athena
Mr Rees told the court Mr Huntley pulled the triggerCredit: WNS 
