A man has been jailed in connection to a fatal shooting near a children’s playground in Islington.

James Nicholson, 36, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment for manslaughter after the killing of Imani Allaway-Muir in July 2020.

Nicholson was the last of a group of men to be sentenced for killing the 22-year-old in broad daylight.

Imani was shot near to a children’s playground in revenge for a robbery the defendants mistakenly thought he had committed.

Islington Gazette: James Nicholson was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for manslaughter James Nicholson was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for manslaughter (Image: Metropolitan Police)

During the trial, the court heard that on the day of the murder (July 4, 2020) one of the defendants, Demetrios Kyriacou, 35, of Liverpool Road, was robbed by four unknown men in Carville Street. The suspects drove off in a black BMW after stealing his Rolex watch, iPhone and cash.

Kyriacou hatched a plan with his fellow defendants to reclaim the stolen property by tracking his assailants using the Find My iPhone app.

After locating the stolen iPhone to Faraday Close, the defendants, including Kyriacou and Nicholson, arrived in the area shortly before 3.20pm.

They immediately approached a group of people who were gathered in a nearby alleyway. Seconds later, one of the defendants, Nathaniel Reece, 41, of Southgate Road, shot Imani multiple times on Roman Way.

Despite the efforts of attending medics, Imani was pronounced dead about half an hour later.

Police later confirmed that Imani had not been involved in the robbery of Kyriacou.

They said that while Reece discharged the firearm and took Imani's life, the other defendants were all jointly responsible for his death because they knowingly assisted the offence.

Islington Gazette: The murder took place near to a children's playground The murder took place near to a children's playground (Image: Metropolitan Police)

In her statement to the court during sentencing, mum Keetha Allaway said: "The pain we feel is unimaginable and no amount of words in this world could describe it.

“Imani was the 'glue' to our family and loved by so many. The whole family are so damaged by Imani’s death.

“A mother should never have to bury their son.”

Nicholson was sentenced for manslaughter, being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, at the Old Bailey last Friday (December 23).

On November 25, Kyriacou and Reece were jailed for the murder of Imani. On the same day Matthew Hardy, 36, of Six Acres Estate, and Darren Dregde, 41, were sentenced for the manslaughter of the 22-year-old.