Hitman jailed for 28 years after shooting housewife in her home

A LITHUANIAN mechanic who tried to kill a Solihull housewife by shooting her in a planned hit has been jailed for 28 years.

The ‘audacious’ attempt to kill the mother of twins was only foiled because her would-be assassin’s gun jammed after he had already shot her twice.

Martynas Okmanas, 28, of Studfall Avenue, Corby, had denied but was found guilty following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court of attempted murder, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing ammunition.

The court heard that the victim who lived with her husband at Dovehouse Lane, Solihull, was financially comfortable and owned commercial and residential properties.

On the morning of December 18 last year the husband had taken their two children to school and she was alone at home. As she was sitting on the sofa drinking a juice and watching TV she became aware of a door handle being turned and saw a shadow on frosted glass.

Okmanas, who was masked, then came into the property, looked directly at her and then fired the first shot, hitting her in the left shoulder, the bullet passing through her and hitting the wall.

The woman pleaded with him not to fire again but he fired a second shot, this time hitting her in her hand. The gun then appeared to jam and the victim took her chance to flee from the property into the street.

Michelle Nelson QC, prosecuting, said the woman thought the intruder had come to rob the house. She said there was evidence that Okmanas, who was arrested at a property in Stratford Road, Birmingham, on February 22 this year, had visited the targeted property the week before.

She said “This was a planned hit job and was done for gain.”

In a statement the victim, who had been recovering from cancer treatment, said she had been left an “emotional wreck” and went on “I still feel anxiety and the horrifying memories still haunt me. My confidence has been greatly afffected.

“It has completely turned my life upside down. My sleep has been affected and I still get flashbacks.”

In passing sentence Judge Simon Drew QC said “The motive for what took place in this case remains a mystery.

“This was a planned shooting with modified ammunition and the gun has not been recovered. You were masked when you committed this offence. You fired not just once but twice and were prepared to fire more.”

Phillip Bradley, defending, said the injuries sustained by the victim, although serious, could have been much worse.