Daylight shooting in Oxford earns gunman 25 months in jail

Emman Riasat, 21, was caught on CCTV running from a smoky-windowed BMW saloon with a gun in his outstretched hand shortly before the ‘shooting’ at the junction with Crown Street on July 24.

He could be seen clinging on to passenger side of a slowly-moving Corsa before aiming his weapon through the open window then fleeing the scene.

Prosecutor Jonathan Stone told Oxford Crown Court on Thursday afternoon that the driver of the Vauxhall was injured. But he had not cooperated with the police and it had not been established whether the driver was shot or stabbed.

Gunpowder residue was discovered inside the Corsa. However, a forensics specialist instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service said a weapon firing blanks could produce a similar residue.

The injured driver’s clothing, which had it contained gunshot residue may have helped answer the question of whether he was shot, was not recovered.

Mr Stone said: “Gunshot residue was found on the front passenger side of the Corsa you saw on the footage. Forensic examinations could go no further than that because the driver would not engage with the police.”

He summarised: “In short, a great deal of suspicion that a projectile was fired and the driver was shot - but no proof.”

One bystander, whose statement was summarised by the prosecutor, was at fast food restaurant KFC when he heard a ‘loud bang and crack’ between 6.30pm and 7pm.

“My instant reaction was that it was a gunshot. The only thing I can compare it to is the sound of a starting pistol,” the fried chicken chain customer said.

He told police that he had seen a man – Riasat – walking away from the scene trying to stuff what appeared to be a gun into his waistband.

Riasat was identified from CCTV, arrested and answered no comment when he was interviewed by detectives.

The prosecutor said the shooting seemed to have involved significant planning. “It was all clearly set-up,” he said.

The defendant, of Outram Road, Oxford, was due to stand trial at the end of this month accused of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Appearing before Oxford Crown Court this afternoon, he pleaded guilty to a lesser alternative of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle KC noted that the prosecution had been unable to prove that Riasat had fired a real gun. “It’s just as well because if they’d been able to prove it was a firearm you’d have had a minimum of five years in prison.”

He imposed 25 months’ imprisonment.

Stephen Bailey, defending, said little by way of mitigation except to tell the judge that his client had ‘learnt a heavy lesson from being in custody for seven months’ on remand.

He said, cryptically: “The defendant must have been sufficiently upset about something to do what he has done. I go no further.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward