A 33-year-old man has been jailed for life for the drive-by murder of 20-year-old Otas Sarkus in Plaistow, east London.
Dean Adams, of Stevenage Road, East Ham, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29-and-a-half years for the murder on August 18, 2021.
A second killer, Deon Brisport, 30, was earlier jailed for life in June with a minimum of 32 years’ imprisonment over the fatal drive-by shooting.
The court heard how the victim was standing with a group of friends near Upton Park Station when a white Volvo SUV drove towards them at speed, with the driver hitting a couple of parked cars as he swerved towards them.
The Volvo pulled alongside the group as they attempted to flee and multiple shots were fired.
Mr Sarkus was struck twice in the eye and another man, aged 18, was struck in the back.
While the second man survived his injuries, Otas died.
Met Detective Inspector Louise Caveen: “Adams’ sentencing brings to a close this investigation.
“This was a senseless and brazen attack, carried out on a residential street in the heart of east London that cost one young man his life and left another seriously wounded.
“My thoughts remain with Otas’ family who have suffered the most terrible loss. While nothing can make up for the tragic loss they have suffered, I can only hope that seeing those responsible held to account in a court of law brings them some solace.”
Jurors were told how the Volvo, which was using cloned plates, was dumped and set alight half-a-mile away in a bid to destroy the evidence.
Gunshot residue was found near the rear passenger window alongside a jacket found on the back seat with Adams’ DNA on it.
A parking ticket linked to the car also led detectives to CCTV on the morning of the killing which showed both Adams and Brisport arriving together at the vehicle.
Three pay-as-you-go phones, all of which were activated on the afternoon of the murder, were used by the killers to contact each other and to book minicabs to take them away from the area of where the Volvo was dumped after the shooting.
Police said this was evidence of an attack “planned in advance.”
DI Caveen said: “There can be no doubt that Adams and Brisport went out on that night to intentionally kill or seriously injure someone and had gone to some lengths to hide their involvement.”
She added: “Such was the strength of the case against them that their defence entered no evidence at court.”
