Two jailed for 'drive-by' murder of Essex dad
Robert Powell, 50, was fatally shot after leaving a party in the early hours of June 13, 2020
The family of Robert Powell, who was killed in a drive-by shooting outside a party in Roydon, Harlow, have expressed their gratitude to Essex Police after two men were sentenced to a combined minimum of 64 years for his murder.
Robert Powell, 50, was fatally shot after leaving a party in the early hours of June 13, 2020. Nana Oppong, 44, the mastermind behind the attack, and his accomplice Israar Shah, 39, have been convicted of his murder. Today, May 31, they received life sentences at Woolwich Crown Court.
Mr. Powell’s sister publicly thanked the Essex Police team: “I know there was a lot of hard work involved in bringing them to trial. It has been a long and painful experience for us all since Robert was killed in 2020, but I am glad two of the people responsible were not able to hide forever.”
Oppong, a high-level drug dealer, fled the country after orchestrating the execution. On the night of the murder, Powell left the party on foot with his two sons. Oppong and Shah were waiting in nearby vehicles. At around 4:45 a.m., a Ford Kuga carrying Oppong approached Powell. A gunman exited the vehicle, shot Powell eight times, and then quickly fled. Two women nearby were also injured by stray bullets. Shah, acting as a spotter in a Toyota Prius, was captured on CCTV fleeing the scene.
An extensive investigation led by Essex Police’s Serious Crime Directorate used key CCTV, telephone, and vehicle tracking evidence. The Ford Kuga was later found abandoned at an industrial estate in Epping. Both Shah and Oppong fled the country shortly after the murder but were eventually apprehended. Oppong was located in Morocco in September 2022 and extradited to the UK in June 2023. Shah was found in Spain in December 2022 and extradited in February 2023.
The investigation was aided by the National Crime Agency’s cracking of EncroChat, an encrypted messaging service used by criminals. EncroChat messages revealed Oppong's plans and implicated him in a conspiracy to supply cocaine and transfer criminal profits. Oppong also admitted to conspiring to supply Class A drugs shortly before the trial.
Detective Superintendent Steve Jennings, who led the investigation, remarked: “Today marks a significant milestone in what has been a four-year effort to bring two dangerous killers to justice. Robert Powell was callously executed in a carefully organized drive-by shooting. These sentences do not mark the end of our investigation. We know others were likely involved, and we will continue to work to see them identified and arrested.”
Powell’s family has been deeply affected by his death. His sister recounted their childhood and expressed the emotional toll on their family, especially their mother, whose health has deteriorated. She criticized the convicted men for fleeing and prolonging their agony, noting that neither showed remorse throughout the trial.
As Essex Police continue their investigation, a 40-year-old man from London was recently arrested in Spain and charged with murder. The authorities remain committed to bringing all involved in Powell’s murder to justice.