Detectives continue to seek justice for Daniel Smith following the acquittal of four men in court

The detective investigating the murder of an innocent man outside a chicken shop has renewed an appeal for information leading to the conviction of his killers.

DCI John Crossley has spoken to the Times about his quest to find justice for Daniel Smith and his family after three men were acquitted of his murder last week.

Mr Smith, a 22-year-old electrician from Queen’s Park, was shot dead outside KFC in Harrow Road, Paddington, in the early hours of November 22, 2010.

Mr Smith, a former pupil from Cardinal Hinsley School in Harlesden (now Newman Catholic College), was returning from a date when he was gunned down as he approached his car after buying some food.

Last week at the Old Bailey, Kervin Kavuala, 27, of Granville Road, Kilburn, Shane Lewis, 32, of Fairlight Avenue, Harlesden, and 30-year-old Zeleke Forde, from Watford, were found not guilty of his murder.

Jonathan Yeboah, 25, of no fixed address, was cleared of firearms charges.

During the Old Bailey trial jurors heard claims that Mr Kavuala shot Mr Smith to avenge the death of his brother Tyno, who was killed three years earlier in Harlesden in a suspected rival gang attack.

Following their acquittal, members of Mr Smith’s family burst into tears and had to be escorted from the courtroom.

Today (Monday), DCI Crossley from Operation Trident, the Met’s specialist team that investigates gun crime in London, told the Times the hunt continued to find Mr Smith’s killers.

He added: “We respect the decision of the courts.

“We are keen to get justice for Daniel Smith and his family.

“If anyone has any information about who is responsible they should call the incident room on 020 8733 4212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”