A notorious criminal mastermind has been found guilty as the sixth individual convicted in the tragic murder case of Joanne Penney, a case of mistaken identity hit orchestrated by Renaldo Baptiste, a drug kingpin serving a life sentence. Baptiste, from his prison cell, coordinated the failed assassination attempt that resulted in the death of Joanne in Talbot Green, near Cardiff. The intended target was a member of a rival gang, but the assailants mistakenly shot Joanne, a 40-year-old mother of four, with a fatal bullet to the chest.
Following a second trial, Baptiste is one of four additional individuals convicted in connection with Joanne’s murder. Molly Ruth Cooper, Laura John, and former Arsenal footballer Donna James were among those found guilty for their roles in the crime. Earlier in the year, five others were convicted in a separate trial, including gunman Marcus Huntley and accomplices Joshua Gordon, Jordan Mills-Smith, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, and Kristina Ginova, all awaiting sentencing.
Baptiste, previously sentenced to a minimum of 25 years for another murder, claimed in court that he collaborated with Gordon to profit by acting as a middleman in drug transactions. He confessed to being part of an Organised Crime Gang named Rico and admitted to sourcing drugs for Huntley and Mills-Smith in south Wales.
The chain of events leading to the fatal shooting involved a dispute over drug territory in Talbot Green between rival gangs. Messages exchanged between Huntley and Baptiste revealed discussions about acquiring a firearm, leading to the tragic outcome on March 9, 2025. Despite Baptiste denying involvement in procuring the gun, evidence pointed to his connection to the crime.
The aftermath saw attempts to cover up the crime, with Huntley burying the weapon and ammunition while others fled the scene. Investigations later recovered the buried gun and bullets, with DNA evidence linking Molly Cooper to the ammunition. Joanne’s grieving family expressed profound sadness over her loss, describing her as a beloved family member whose memory will always be cherished.