18/08/2014 BBC London News

Good evening. Welcome to BBC London News.

Three men have been found gtilty of the murder of Sabrina Moss, a

nursery teacher shot dead while out celebrating her birthday last year.

The 24`year`old got caught hn the crossfire of a North London gang

war. Her friends suffered life`threatening injuries.

A happy young woman. Sabrin` Moss, celebrating her 24th birthd`y. Soon,

she would lose her life. According to police, caught in the crossfire

of a gang over drugs. Today, Scotland Yard this footage. It shows

two men who armed themselves with a machine gun and a shotgun. But they

killed a completely innocent by`stander. We can see them running

up to the road and then thex open fire.

Sabrina is gone and her son has been left without a mother. Sabrhna was a

completely innocent victim of a totally senseless and callots crime.

She was out celebrating. Whdn it started to rain she joined ` group

of people sheltering under ` shop. Standing nearby were members of the

South Kilburn gang, who werd being hunted by some rivals. Huss`n

Hussein opened fire. Yassin James used a shotgun. Sabrina Moss died

later in hospital and her friend was lucky to survive. After being hit by

more than 50 shotgun pellets. There was no warning as to what w`s

happening. I thought it was fireworks. I did think it w`s

fireworks. Sabrina was stood in front of me. That was when H heard

her say that she'd been shot in her heart. In Kilburn High Road they

have not forgotten A neighbouring shopkeeper believes this is a bullet

hole left by the attack. Today, at the Old Bailey, three men wdre

convicted of murder and the attempted murder of rival g`ng

members. This was a callous act committed by individuals who are

willing to fire a MAC`10 machine pistol, double barrel shotgtn at a

group of people out celebrating They had no regard as to who was

present and who would be catght up. They wanted to injure, maim or kill

as many as possible. The police are pleased with these verdicts. All the

defendants guilty of all ch`rges and they will be sentenced here at the

Old Bailey next month. London should be split into five

megaboroughs to speed up pl`nning decisions and enable development.

That is according to a new report put together by a City law firm

Critics claim giant boroughs are costly to run and are insensitive to

local opinion. The constituencies ` millions of

ballot papers are being counted .. As the political state of the nation

comes up for decision. This was the last time that the set`up of

London's boroughs changed, back when Harold Wilson was winning the 1 64

election. The map of London Government was being drawn hnto

something like we see today, without the mayor, of course. Since those

black and white days, many have documented the changes in otr city.

Many have called for them. @ smaller number of boroughs with far greater

expertise and resources will have greater fire power and abilhty to

make schemes happen. To bring forward compulsory purchase orders,

to forge partnerships, to bring forward housing developments. Before

1965, there were 91 separatd authorities running London. They

were joined up to form the current 32 boroughs and the City of London

Corporation. That is more than Paris, which has 20. They all have

their own mayor and Town Hall as well as a city`wide authority and

mayor. New York has five boroughs, but a mayor with more powers than

the one in London. This was a pep project of Ken Livingstone hn the

old days. It was rejected bdcause it will make the huge boroughs too

remote from the people they serve on a day`to`day issue. London has seen

councils joining up some services already. These three West London

boroughs, saving through sh`ring things like their libraries. Even

that agreement is under revhew, after Labour won one of the councils

at the recent elections. Thdre is scepticism in Hammersmith over the

report from the City law firm. I would like to see mechanisms

focussing on making councils more efficient, focussing on affordable

housing. This seems to be a wrong mechanism, at the wrong timd, be I

the wrong people. Any changd would need a change in the law and it is a

change that's not on the cards just yet. Crystal Palace have bedn fined

by the Premier League for allegedly providing a team's line`up before

the game. This was known as "spy gate. Cardiff

played palace. They said a lember of their staff had used contacts back

at Cardiff to get a sneak pdak ot their team sheet 24 hours bdfore the

game. It did not change the outcome of the season. The Premier League

investigated. Tonight, we ldarn they will fine palace. We don't know how

much. The maximum would be ?25, 00. Neither club has commented tonight.

That is a small amount, really. We are in unchartered waters at the

idea of a club spying against another as far as I know th`t sun

heard of. Palace lost their manager and first game. Right, that is it

for now from me. Let's find out what the weather has in store with Wendy.

It sets the tone for the wedk. Fine weather, but cool. That is what is

happening out there at the loment. Most of the showers we've h`d this

evening are clearing away now. There will be clear, dry conditions

behind. It will be nippy. Ott in the countryside, we will be in single

figures easily. It will be a slightly crisp start to

the day tomorrow for August, at least. We'll have some sunshine

through the morning. Spells into the afternoon as well. One or two

showers dotted around on thd breeze through the afternoon. Tempdratures,

well, look at those. 17`18 Celsius at best for some of us. That is

below where it should be for this time of year. Similar for Wddnesday

and Thursday as well. A bit of rain around on Friday. And with lore on

around on Friday. And with more on all of that, of course, here is

Alex. Good evening. There's no sign of

things warming up any time soon It will stay