Donna James, 51, denies helping her son Jordan Mills-Smith to purchase a coach ticket to London after he had been involved in the murder of Joanne Penney in Talbot Green
16:56, 12 May 2026Updated 17:03, 12 May 2026
Donna James denies helping her son flee Wales after he murdered Joanne Penney (Image: PA)
A woman who played for Arsenal denies she helped her son purchase a coach ticket to escape after he committed a murder, a court has heard. She said she did not know what he had done, and thought he had problems with gambling.
Joanne Penney was found dead in a block of flats in Talbot Green after being shot in the chest on March 9, 2025. A trial at Cardiff Crown Court previously heard her murder stemmed from a “clash of organised crime gangs”.
It is the prosecution’s case that serving prisoner Renaldo Baptiste, even though he was not the one who pulled the trigger, is guilty of murdering Miss Penney as part of what is said to have been a turf war between two rival drug-dealing gangs. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
Alongside him in the dock are Molly Cooper, who is accused of acquiring ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, and Laura John and Donna James, who are accused of assisting an offender.
Five people have already been convicted of murdering Miss Penney: Marcus Huntley – the man who fired the fatal shot on the night of March 9, 2025 – Joshua Gordon, Jordan Mills-Smith, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, and Kristina Ginova.
Giving evidence on Tuesday, Donna James, 51, denied assisting her son Mills-Smith in fleeing Wales to his father’s home in Suffolk, by helping him to purchase a coach ticket between Cardiff and London.
It’s the prosecution’s case that James sent a photo of her mother’s bank card to Mills-Smith’s then girlfriend Laura John, so he could purchase the coach ticket.
Following her arrest, James said: “I only found out afterwards, I have nothing to do with this” and she declined a solicitor, saying “I’ve done f*** all wrong”
When asked by her barrister Jon Anders if she knew what her son had done, James said: “No.” She also denied she knew he was wanted by the police.
The defendant said she didn’t have a good relationship with her son Mills-Smith, who was raised by her mother.
She told the court she used to play for Arsenal Women’s team when she was in primary school until she became pregnant at 17-years-old.
James said she became addicted to crack cocaine for 10 years and now has a number of health conditions including fibromyalgia, ILD, Meniere’s disease and a leaking hearing valve
She said: “I’ve been told to say my goodbyes as my chances aren’t looking very good.”
Mr Anders said: “Were you given a reason why Jordan wanted the card?”
James said: “Jordan said his dad wasn’t very well and he wanted to go and see him.”
Mr Anders said: “Did you know the real reason? Jordan was leaving the area because of something he’d done?”
James said: “No.”
Mr Anders said: “Did you think there was anything wrong about Jordan?”
James said: “No… Never in my life did I think it would be this. Jordan had a gambling problem, I thought maybe he’d messed up somewhere and owed someone money.”
The defendant said she didn’t buy a coach ticket for Mills-Smith and denied knowing he had been involved in a murder at the time.
Concluding his questioning, Mr Anders said: “Did you ever intend to prevent or make it harder for the police to arrest or prosecute Jordan?”
James said: “No.”
Mr Anders said: “Did you knowingly play any part in Jordan leaving the Cardiff area?”
James said: “No.”
Renaldo Baptiste, aged 39, of no fixed abode, denies murder while Molly Cooper, 33, of The Crossway, Leicester, denies acquiring ammunition for a firearm without a certificate. Laura John, 22, of Gelli Deg, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, and 51-year-old Donna James, of Mostyn Square, Llanishen, Cardiff, both deny assisting an offender.
The trial continues.
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