Two Wandsworth men have been cleared of murdering a former British heavyweight boxing champion in a row over smoking - but the case against a third man, from Putney, is continuing.

James Oyebola, 46, was shot in the neck and leg at Chateau 6 nightclub in Fulham in July last year, and died four days later from his injuries.

Rene McKoy, 20, of Battersea, and 24-year-old Dean Francis, of Wandsworth Town, both walked free from the Old Bailey yesterday after Judge Peter Rook ordered the jury to enter formal not guilty verdicts following prosecutors’ decision to drop the charges against the pair.

During the trial, which began at the start of September, jurors heard Mr Oyebola was killed when he asked a group of men to stop smoking, just three weeks after the ban on smoking in public places came into force.

The prosecution is still proceeding with their case against a third man, Kanyanta Mulenga, 23, of Putney, A fourth man, Cyle Carth, 18, of Wimbledon, will face a separate trial later.

Both Carth and Mulenga deny murder.