Woman jailed for helping on-the-run murderers
A woman who helped two convicted murderers evade justice has been jailed for three years.
Selina Simms is the mother of Disharn Downie, 19, and partner of Isaiah Wright-Young, 37, who are both serving life sentences for shooting teenager Kenichi Phillips as he sat in a car in St Marks Crescent, Ladywood in March 2016.
Downie was convicted and jailed in November 2016, but Wright-Young went into hiding and was found in Dudley seven months later. He was jailed in April earlier this year.
Simms, aged 42 from Gravel Bank, Bartley Green, stood trial at Birmingham Crown Court where she was found guilty of two counts of assisting an offender.
Over the six day trial, the jury heard how Simms used several different unregistered mobile phones following the murder of Kenichi to stay in touch with her son and partner to impede their apprehension.
She was present as they prepared to go on the run and there is clear evidence of contact between the three of them in the days and weeks following the murder.
Detective Inspector Jim Munro, from the force’s homicide unit, said: "This is another victory in the hunt to bring all those connected to the death of Kenichi Phillips to justice.
"Kenichi was just 18-years-old with his whole life before him when he died. His family have been through two trials to see his murderers brought to justice.
"Guns have no place on our streets and we will continue to prosecute those who are involved in bringing the utmost devastation and misery to the families of victims."
Simms was convicted and sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday.
The news comes as in February this year, a woman from Dudley was charged with assisting an offender in relation to the fatal shooting.
