A MAN who ordered the murder of a young dad and fled the country with the help of his girlfriend has been jailed.
Ethan Hallows told his associate to shoot 19-year-old Kevin Pokuta in a tragic case of mistaken identity.
The 25-year-old ordered fellow gang member, Jake Brown, to fire at the young dad-of-two as he sat innocently in a car on Page Hall Road, in Sheffield.
Chilling CCTV showed Brown shoot four rounds into the vehicle while riding an e-bike.
Sheffield Crown Court heard Hallows orchestrated the attack, on December 12, 2023, after a botched robbery at a cannabis farm the previous night.
Hallows and his gang wrongly thought Mr Pokuta’s car had been the same one to ram them during their failed mission.
After killing the teenager, coward Hallows fled the UK and hid in Dubai – with the help of his girlfriend Paris Askew.
Detectives discovered Askew had been using her phone to research which countries don’t have extradition treaties with the UK and Interpol’s wanted list.
They also found evidence she had sent her boyfriend updates on the case.
CCTV captured Hallows being dropped off at Manchester Airport the day after the shooting.
Officers arrested the thug when he flew back to England in May last year.
Hallows, 25, of Oxford Street, Sheffield, denied murder but was found guilty after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
The defendant was also found guilty of conspiracy to rob, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
He was jailed for life with a minimum 33-year term.
Meanwhile 23-year-old Askew, of Griffiths Road, Sheffield, was found guilty of assisting an offender and jailed for three years.
Brown is already serving a life sentence with a minimum of 36 years for murder and four other co-defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Judge Recorder Jeremy Richardson KC told Hallows: “[Brown] executed what you had directed.”
Det Ch Insp Tom Woodward, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “Hallows’ cowardly conduct saw him run away to avoid facing the consequences of his actions.
“We have no place for gun crime in South Yorkshire. Lives such as Kevin’s and his family’s are often ruined and we will continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who choose to bring gun violence to our streets.”
Senior Crown prosecutor Ed Hall, added: “Rather than face justice, Hallows fled to Dubai with the help of his girlfriend, Paris Askew. Knowing he was responsible for murder, she arranged his transport and provided financial support while he evaded capture.
“Our prosecutors presented clear evidence of her role in obstructing the course of justice.
“Both have now been held accountable for their parts in this senseless killing. I hope today’s outcome brings some comfort to Kevin’s family.”
