First Conviction in Graff Robbery Case

Dressed in suits and wearing makeup to disguise their look, Kassaye and an accomplice pulled out handguns and threatened to shoot store employees as they collected 43 rings, necklaces, bracelets, watches and earrings from the display cases. Among the stolen items they took was a diamond necklace worth �3.5 million ($5.3 million).

They left the store just two minutes after they entered it, kidnapping a sales associate to shield them from the guard as they escaped. A short gun fight erupted before the robbers entered a car and left the scene.

The loot has ever been recovered in what is considered Britain's biggest gems robbery.

Kassaye, who is facing years in jail, is one of seven people on trial for the robbery. The Woolwich crown court jury is still deliberating on six other men accused of being involved in the raid.

One of the six is Craig Calderwood, 27, who allegedly entered the store with Kassaye. Calderwood admits being a robber, but claims he was forced to take part because of threats made against him and his family.

The court was played CCTV footage from inside the store which showed one of the robbers pushing a gun into the back of a female assistant and forcing her to empty jewels from display cabinets into a black bag, the Guardian reported.