A Brighton man has been cleared of murdering a father of two in a shooting in Hove.
A jury at Hove Crown Court acquitted Edmund Nela, 32, of the murder of a fellow Albanian, Xhem Krasniqi, a scaffolder from Strood, Kent.
Nela, who is unemployed and of no fixed address, was also found not guilty of the attempted murder of Mr Krasniqi’s brother Ismail Zeneli and his nephew Kelmend Murataj. And he was clearer of having a firearm.
Mr Krasniqi, 31, died after being shot in Selborne Road, Hove, just off Church Road, on Saturday 18 May.
He had been with his brother and his nephew when he was shot once in the abdomen.
Another bullet hit his nephew but lodged in his wallet, having ricocheted, leaving him unhurt.
Nela said that a shot was fired accidentally as he wrestled a 9mm pistol from an assailant.
He said that he was confronted by armed men shortly after he had collected his wife from work.
He said that he thought that the men wanted to kill him.
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 composure throughout.”
