Strood: Man Found Not Guilty Of Murder

3 February 2014, 16:49 | Updated: 3 February 2014, 17:25

Edmond Nela, 32, has been found not guilty of the murder of Xhem Kransniqi.

The jury at Hove Crown Court today (3 February) found Nela, who is unemployed and of no fixed address, not guilty of murder, the attempted murder of Xhem's nephew Kelmend Murataj and brother Ismail Zeneli and possession of a firearm.
 
Xhem Krasniqi, 31, died after being shot in Church Road, Hove, on 18 May. He had been with his brother and his nephew when he was fatally shot once in the abdomen. His nephew narrowly missed being injured when a bullet entered his clothes.


Detective Superintendent Ian Pollard, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "We accept the decision of the court. This was a difficult case for a number of reasons. Whatever reason was behind them meeting that day it did not warrant someone losing their life.

"My sympathies go to Xhem's wife who sat through all the evidence, some of it was understandably difficult to listen to. I would like to pay tribute to her resolve and compusure throughout."

Xhem Krasniqi, 31, was hit once in the abdomen after a gunman opened fire in Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, at about 11.30pm on Saturday 18th May 2013.

The married scaffolder, who lived in Kent, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton but died just after 1am, Sussex Police said.

Shots were also fired at Mr Krasniqi's brother and nephew, which lead detectives to treat the case as a murder and two attempted murders.