Man jailed for 20 years for street shooting

News imageWest Midlands Police A police custody photo of Koketso Ximba, who is wearing a grey top and is in front of a grey wallWest Midlands Police
Koketso Ximba, 23, was found guilty of manslaughter, but cleared of murder

A man has been jailed for 20 years for killing a man in a street shooting in Wolverhampton.

Neo Graham, 24, was shot on Eastfield Road just after 15:20 GMT on 4 March last year.

Koketso Ximba, 23, was convicted of manslaughter in April, but cleared of murder.

He has been sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court, alongside three of his associates, who were jailed for between four and 10 years for charges including supplying drugs and possession of a firearm.

On the day of the shooting, six shots were fired from a red Renault Clio into a group of people, police said.

They added that a man who was with Graham was shot in the arm and foot, but he managed to run off and hide nearby. A third man with them was able to flee uninjured.

News imageFamily A man with short black hair, wearing glasses and a black jacket. He is sitting in a beige-coloured chair.Family
Neo Graham was pronounced dead at the scene, after being shot on Eastfield Road in March last year

The car involved in the shooting was dumped and set on fire two hours later, police said.

Within 24 hours of the shooting, four people were arrested: Derrick Da Silva, Fabio Bandarrinha, Elie Mey and Aaron Osei.

Officers confirmed a gun was recovered during the operation, which was proven to have been used in the fatal shooting.

Crack cocaine with an estimated value of up to £19,000, was also found, along with £6,980 in cash.

News imageWest Midlands Police A police mugshot of Fabio Bandarrinha and Aaron Osei (right). Both are in grey t-shirts and in front a neutral grey wallWest Midlands Police
Fabio Bandarrinha (left) and Aaron Osei were jailed for 10 and seven years respectively

In a tribute previously released by the force, Graham's family described him as "a loving, caring, family-oriented person" and "a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend".

They added: "There are no words to describe how this loss has impacted our family and wider community."

The family added that almost 200 people had attended a vigil and balloon release in his memory.

News imageWest Midlands Police A police mugshot of Derrick Da Silva and Elie Mey (right). Both are in grey t-shirts and in front a neutral grey wallWest Midlands Police
Elie Mey (right) is due to be sentenced next month, while Derrick Da Silva was given four years

During the sentencing hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday, Fabio Bandarrinha, 21, was jailed for 10 years for possession of a firearm, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.

Aaron Osei, 23, was jailed for seven years for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, assisting an offender and possession of criminal property.

Derrick Da Silva, 20, was sentenced to four years for intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of criminal property.

A fifth person, Elie Mey, 25, is due to be sentenced on 17 July for possession of a firearm, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, assisting an offender and possession of criminal property.

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