Racist gets life for shooting three strangers

Published on Saturday 24 February 2007 00:24

A RACIST gunman who wounded three strangers in a "pavement rage" shooting spree after vowing to "kill all black people", was given five life sentences yesterday.

BNP supporter John Laidlaw, 24, was told he must serve at least 15 years after being convicted of three attempted murders and two charges of possessing a firearm.

The former amateur boxer, who was described as "foaming at the mouth" after being arrested for a racially aggravated assault on a motorist five months earlier, opened fire on two black men in less than an hour in London in May last year.

One, Abu Kamara, 44, a social worker, was left fighting for his life after being shot in the neck in a busy street, and a young white woman, 26-year-old Emma Sheridan, was hit in the crossfire when he tried to murder Evans Baptiste at a Tube station as terrified commuters cowered for cover.

The bullet is still embedded next to Mr Kamara's spine and could kill or paralyse him at any time if it is dislodged.

Miss Sheridan survived because the pistol round became lodged in her clothing.

Sentencing Laidlaw at the Old Bailey yesterday, Judge Samuel Wiggs told him: "Within the space of less than an hour you fired at three innocent members of the public."

Setting a minimum term of 15 years, the judge warned Laidlaw that he would not be freed until the Parole Board decided he was no longer a danger to the public.