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Two men in court following death of Red Cow landlord Joe Daniels, from Folkestone
11:46, 11 March 2020
updated: 14:49, 11 March 2020
Two men have appeared in court charged with firearms offences relating to the fatal shooting of a pub landlord in Folkestone.
Joe Daniels, 58, was found unresponsive inside the Red Cow pub, in Foord Road, on Wednesday, November 22, 2017.
He had suffered an injury consistent with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene, where a firearm was also recovered.
Since the incident, detectives have carried out extensive inquiries and appealed for witnesses to come forward with information.
Officers reviewed more than 1000 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage, took more than 350 statements and seized more than 1,200 items.
In January 2018 and February 2019 two men were arrested in connection with the incident.
Both men, aged 25, appeared at Margate Magistrates’ Court charged with firearms offences last month.
But police say neither man is being "investigated in relation to Mr Daniels' death".
Eli Smith, of Valley Road, Cantebury, was charged with two counts of selling a prohibited weapon, possession of a firearm without a certificate, possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and converting an imitation firearm into a firearm.
The second man, Robin Ling, was charged with two counts of selling a prohibited weapon, being concerned in the supply of class B drugs and conspiring to supply class B drugs.
They will next appear at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday.
Det Ch Insp Richard Vickery, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "The tragic death of Mr Daniels remains unsolved and our thoughts are with his family, who we have kept updated throughout our enquiries.
"Over the past two years we have reviewed more than 1,000 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage.
"We have also taken more than 350 statements, searched houses and seized more than 1,200 items, many of which have been forensically examined.
"The two people who have been charged with firearms offences are no longer being investigated in relation to Mr Daniels' death and have been eliminated from this part of our enquiries.
"Whilst there is no new update for this part of our investigation, I would like to thank all those people who have come forward to assist us with information so far."
