A senior police officer has appealed to members of a south Liverpool community who know the name of a killer to come forward.
This weekend marks the 14th anniversary of Colin Smith's murder and detectives have said they are still determined to bring the killer to court.
A gunman armed with a pump action shotgun lay in wait for Mr Smith as he said goodbye to friends at Nel's gym in Speke on Tuesday, November 13, 2007.
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Mr Smith, a dad-of-five, was shot twice at close range and died at the scene.
Mr Smith was well-known in the city and had a number of local business interests.
In 1993, Mr Smith was cleared of allegations he was involved in a £190m plot to bring Venezuelan cocaine into the UK, alongside infamous drugs baron Curtis Warren.
The case, which was heard at Newcastle Crown Court, was described at the time as country's largest ever drug conspiracy.
The men were arrested after the authorities seized 900kg of high purity cocaine in March 1992 during Operation Singer, which at the time was an unprecedented recovery for the authorities.
Mr Smith's family has previously pointed out that he was never convicted of any drugs offence and strongly denies he had links to Warren.
After Mr Smith's murder, theories surfaced suggesting the south Liverpool man had been shot due to a fall-out over a large drug shipment.
Police have declined to comment on the speculation. In the past Mr Smith's family have suggested he was betrayed by people within the Speke community.
Police have made two arrests in relation to the murder. Two men, now aged 55 and 25, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. No charges have been brought.
Earlier this year Liverpool Crown Court heard how Mr Smith's murder had an effect on his son Colin, who was just a child at the time.
Colin Smith jnr cried in court when he said he was only eight or nine years old at the time of his dad's death.
The incident surfaced during a trial when Smith jnr was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. He was jailed for 11 years for his role in a crash which killed two people.
In an exchange with his barrister, Ian Whitehurst, Smith jnr said his father had died near to the scene of the fatal car crash in Speke.
Police have now renewed their appeal for information about Mr Smith's murder.
A police spokesperson said: "Detectives investigating the murder of a dad-of-five from Halewood are appealing for anyone with information to come forward 14 years on from his death.
"Colin Smith was fatally shot on Alderwood Road, Speke, at around 8pm on Tuesday 13 November, 2007. He was 40.
"Colin was fatally shot as he made his way towards his car after visiting Nel’s Gym, close to the Millhouse public house. The car was parked on a service road on Alderwood Road.
"We are continuing to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time who hasn’t already come forward to speak to us as they may have information which could be vital to solving Colin’s murder."
Detective Superintendent Susan Coombs said: "Fourteen years have passed since the brutal killing of Colin, and we remain determined to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
"Time is never a barrier to justice and we regularly review all murder investigations to identify and act on any fresh information.
“We know that people out there can tell us who shot Colin Smith and it is those people I would urge to speak up. It is never too late to do the right thing and ensure that the person responsible for this is put behind bars.
“Colin was very well-known in the Speke area and we believe that means there will be people in that community who have heard vital information who haven’t yet spoken to us. Those people may have moved from the area or be in a different situation which allows them to now speak up. We will support anyone in doing so.
“Colin’s family and friends are still dealing with his loss 14 years on. I can reassure them that Merseyside Police will not give up until those responsible are put before the courts."
Anyone who can help the police with their investigation can contact Merseyside Police on Twitter @MerPolCC, Facebook at ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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