Isle of Sheppey shooting: Sam Petrou from Gillingham found dead at Eastgate chalet park shot twice in the chest, inquest hears

A man found dead at a chalet park had been shot twice in the chest, an inquest has heard.

Ambulance crews were called to the Cliff Cottage Chalet Park in Fourth Avenue, Eastchurch, Sheppey, at around 9.40am on the morning of Sunday, June 11, where they found the body of Sam Petrou.

An inquest into the 35-year-old’s death was held this morning with his address given as Duncan Road, Gillingham.

It was said during the brief hearing Mr Petrou’s occupation was unknown and he was single. He had been born in Southwark, London, in March 1988.

Ambulance crews had received a call from the occupant of a neighbouring chalet after the owner of the chalet where Mr Petrou’s body was found had knocked on his door and said that he thought “Sam was dead.”

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Both then went to chalet number eight, where they found Mr Petrou lying in the floor of the living area still and cold.

Ambulance staff confirmed him dead at the scene, with two gunshot wounds to the chest and one exit wound.

A post mortem confirmed the cause of death as gunshot wounds.

Speaking at the hearing in County Hall, Maidstone, Coroner Katrina Hepburn said she was aware there was an ongoing police investigation into the incident and she therefore suspecyed the inquest indefinitely until the outcome was known.

Two people have been charged in connection with the murder of Mr Petrou.

Jonathan Lawlor was arrested in Newscastle four days after the discovery of Mr Petrou’s body.

Lawlor, 42, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder.

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Daisy Donohoe, 35, was arrested at her home in Burnell Avenue, Welling. She has been charged with assisting an offender.

Lawlor had been due to appear before Medway Magistrates on Monday, but was said to be too ill to attend court.

When he was still too ill on Wednesday, magistrates took the unusual step of proceeding with the case in his absence.

He was remanded him in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (June 22) where the date of December 4 was set for his trial.

Although they were not notified until Sunday morning, police believe that Mr Petrou had died at around 8pm the night before, Saturday, June 10.

Donohoe, described in court as Lawlor’s girlfriend, is alleged to have assisted an offender by picking him up in her car after the incident, buying him new clothes and disposing of his old ones, and staying in a hotel with him.

Donohoe appeared by video link at Medway Magistrates’ Court where she denied the allegations.

Her case will be dealt with at Maidstone Crown Court, with a preliminary hearing set for Monday, July 17.

The court heard the gun used to kill Mr Petrou has not yet been located by officers.

The District Judge, William Nelson, initially granted Donohoe conditional bail, but the CPS prosecutor, Debbie Jones, appealed that decision and Donohoe currently remains in custody.

Police originally arrested five people as part of their invesgation but three have since been released without charge.

Friends and relatives have paid tribute to Mr Petrou on social media, where his father, Nick, said: “He was so loved – the number of posts and heartfelt comments people have put up for him has blown me away.”

“I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my broken heart.”

A friend, Ben Hyland, posted: “Devastated is an understatement – I can’t remember Sam not smiling and laughing.

“He was such a nice man and would do anything for anyone, so I’m proud to call him my friend – I’m going to miss him dearly.”