A robber who tried to shoot his way out when an of

A robber who tried to shoot his way out when an off licence
raid went wrong, killing a teenage boy and wounding another man,
was given two life sentences today Monday.

Joseph Conroy, 25, blasted 15-year-old Navid Sadiq in the
head from point blank range with the pistol the youngster had
thought was a toy.

He then shot the boy’s uncle, shopkeeper Nassar Ali, 25,
before being restrained by two brave passersby.

Conroy later made Nazi salutes, boasted of his Anglo Saxon
heritage and told police he hoped his two victims, both from
South Norwood, would die.

He later asked: ‘What am I going to get for shooting a couple
of Pakis?’
Conroy denied murder and attempted murder but was convicted
on both charges by an Old Bailey jury.

He nodded as the
unanimous verdicts were returned.

He had earlier admitted attempting to rob Tower Bridge Wines,
Tower Bridge Road, Southwark, at gunpoint on January 25 this
year.

It was revealed that three other small traders in south
London had also risked their lives standing up to Conroy in the
months leading up to the fatal robbery.

Between November 28 and December 27, an off licence in Great
Suffolk Street, Southwark, a Texaco garage in Grange Road,
Southwark, and Peter Dominics off licence in Lordship Lane, East
Dulwhich, were raided.

In all three cases, the silver gun used in the January
shooting was used.

Unknown to the jury, Conroy, of Holly Grove, Peckham, pleaded
guilty to the three raids before the murder trial began.

Judge Kenneth Richardson QC was told the defendant had a long
criminal record but none for robbery and only one for violence.

A psychiatrist said Conroy suffered from ‘moderate or severe
psychopathic illness’.

Mr William Clegg, QC, defending, asked the court to accept
that the shooting was not racially motivated.

Conroy had expressed a real regret for the consequences of
the shooting, he added.

Judge Richardson told the defendant: ‘You have been convicted
of a shocking murder and it is by sheer luck that it is not two
murders.

‘They were committed in the course of robbery and there is
only one sentence by law I can pass.

‘
Conroy nodded as he was sentenced to life for the murder of
the teenager, life for attempted murder and 12 years for the
other crimes.

A middle aged woman sobbed and said: ‘Bye, son’ as he was
led down to the cells.

Outside court, Mr Ali said justice had been done but nothing
would bring back Navid or totally cure his own injuries.

‘I’m going to suffer for the rest of my life.

‘He’ll be released one day.

But Navid won’t be coming back.

‘I still suffer from where he shot me.

Now and then I really
feel pain.

‘
He said ‘words could not express the loss’ of the teenager.

ENDS