Murder victim was full-time carer

A man shot dead outside an East End nightclub was a professional carer who at the time he was killed was tending to a paralysed victim of a previous gangland shooting, the Standard can reveal.

Curtis Smith, 36, was gunned down near the Club Red club in Limehouse on 27 July while he was looking after a man confined to a wheelchair by a similar shooting seven years ago.

Mr Smith's wife, Sara, issued a plea for information to help catch her husband's killer. Mrs Smith said: "My husband was a kind, considerate and caring man who on the night he was murdered was working as a carer. He was working nights in order that he could move into our new home.

"He was murdered on our first wedding anniversary. We were going to spend the day celebrating together and packing our things up as we were supposed to move into our new home this week. I appeal to anyone who has information about my husband's murder, no matter how small or insignificant you feel it may be, to please contact police."

Detectives describe Mr Smith, a father of three, as a man of good character and say they are mystified about a motive.

Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 020 8733 4704, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.