Two men have been found guilty following a shooting at the Poets Ale and Smokehouse pub in Montgomery Street, Hove.
Carlos Cassidy, formerly known as Martin Bennett, and Memis Kalmis were convicted at Brighton Crown Court on Friday 2 October. Both were found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The case concerned a bullet fired into the pub on 4 April. Judge Timothy Walker had sent the jury out to consider its verdicts on the afternoon of 1 October.
Opening the prosecution case on 23 September, Gareth Burrows said the Crown alleged that Cassidy fired the shot while Kalmis was driving.
Defendants gave different accounts
In a police interview presented during the trial, Cassidy denied knowing anything about the shooting.
He said he had been drinking at the pub with Kalmis and Sade Ward, but that he and Ms Ward later left to continue drinking at a friend’s house after Kalmis said he was going to meet friends.
Cassidy told police: “I know nothing about a shooting. I do not have a gun in my possession.
“I don’t know why police believe it was me.”
Kalmis gave a different account, telling the jury that Cassidy had fired the weapon and that he had tried to stop him.
He said Cassidy had become angry and paranoid after they encountered a man wearing a baseball cap who was known to both defendants.
According to Kalmis, Cassidy told him: “They are here to do me.”
Kalmis said he was later trying to drive home when Cassidy jumped into his white Audi and told him: “Drive, drive to the f***ing pub.”
He told the court he felt terrified when Cassidy began firing the weapon.
Cassidy did not give evidence during the trial. In his police interview, he rejected Kalmis’s account.
CCTV and witness evidence
During the trial, jurors heard from witnesses and were shown CCTV footage. They also saw a separate video of Cassidy wearing a clown mask and dancing with a gun.
Witness Sarah London said she saw a tall man running past the front of a dark-coloured car. The court was told that Cassidy was shorter than Kalmis.
Another witness, Grace Holt, described hearing bickering outside the pub.
In a statement, Paul Kay said he was in Montgomery Street at about 10pm that evening. From the third floor of a building, he could see a man and a woman in the street.
He said the man was shouting as he walked away from the woman towards the pub. Mr Kay recalled hearing him say: “I’m not having it,” and: “They need to respect.”
Both defendants are due to return to court for sentencing on 22 January.
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