These 27 homicide cases from 2018 remain unsolved*. Can you help? Contact the police, or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.
Yaya Mbye, 26, was stabbed to death on the George Downing Estate in Stoke Newington at around 11.34pm on 28 January 2018.
Police said he had been chased by three or four young men dressed in dark clothing. He was stabbed several times including a fatal wound to the stomach.
The suspects are believed to have left the scene in a silver Mercedes estate car which was later found to have been destroyed.
Renewing appeals for information in April 2021, DCI Perry Benton said: “Over time allegiances change and people who may have been afraid to speak to us before could now be willing to share information. We have been met by a wall of silence from the community but I want to reassure you that anything shared with officers would be treated sensitively.
“I am asking people who were in the area in January 2018 to think back to that night and to try to remember if they saw or heard anything suspicious. Was a friend or relative acting suspiciously in the days after Yaya’s death? No piece of information is too small.”
For more detail see our full report County Lines, Cuckooing and the unsolved murder of Yaya Mbye.
To provide information to police contact the incident room on 020 8345 1570.
Bulent Kabala, a 41-year-old taxi driver, was shot in the head and chest in a ‘targeted hit’ in Cockfosters on 12 February 2018.
The father-of-three had picked up a fare and was negotiating a roundabout at the junction of Mount Pleasant and Edgeworth Road at around 11.44pm when his Mercedes was hit by a stolen blue Ford Transit van. When he got out of his car he was shot four times, including once to the head.
Bulent and I were married for 19 years and he was a wonderful husband and father to our three children. We had a lovely life and then in one night everything came crashing down. Time hasn’t healed anything and I just want to know why it happened so we can all start to move on.
My youngest child was only two when his dad was killed and has no memories of him at all. Every time my children hear family and friends say ‘dad’ it causes them and me a huge amount of pain. Someone in this community knows something and they need to put themselves in my position for just one minute and get us the justice we need.
Bulent’s wife Sevitch, speaking in 2020
CCTV revealed the suspects had been following Bulent in the van before the attack. They then drove away in the van before dumping it, with a toolbox and tools in the back, in Pilgrims Close, Palmers Green, on 14 February.
The murder happened six months after Bulent’s cousin Cafer Islam was shot dead in the street in Enfield on 23 August 2017. His brother had also been shot dead in Turkey three years earlier.
While the gunmen in these cases were not the same, it cannot be a coincidence that Bulent’s brother Ilhan Kabala was also fatally shot outside of a nightclub in Turkey in 2014 and that all three men were murdered within a few years of each other.
Without a doubt people know exactly what took place, who was responsible and the roles that individuals played in what appear to be well-planned, contract killings. Bulent’s family have faced the mental torment of knowing that the information is simmering in the community, but through misguided loyalty it is not reaching the police. Those in the know have an opportunity to reset the moral compass and allow Bulent’s family to get justice.
A lot of planning went into Bulent’s murder. With such planning there will be opportunities as many people will have played different roles which they will have spoken about. Experience shows that people will have possibly, unwittingly carried out what at the time seemed like a lower level crime such as stealing the number plates or sourcing a van – we need this chatter to work its way into evidence.”
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh
Four people were arrested in relation to the murder but all were released with no further action and the case remains unsolved.
A £20,000 reward for information was offered by police. Call the police incident room on 020 8785 8099, or to provide information anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Kelvin Odunuyi, 19, was shot dead outside the Vue cinema in Wood Green High Road at around 12.32am on 8 March 2018. Detectives said the suspect was a pillion passenger on a moped which mounted the pavement before several shots were fired.
The murder may have been carried out in retaliation for the killing of Kwabena ‘Kobi’ Nelson a month earlier, as part of a feud between rival gangs from Tottenham and Wood Green (see our feature on Haringey borough gangs, including WGM and the NPK). Contact the incident room on 0208 358 0200.
Russian businessman Nikolay Glushkov, 68, was found strangled at his home in Clarence Avenue, New Malden, at around 10.46pm on 12 March 2018.
Police believe there was an attempt to disguise the killing as a suicide though there was no sign of forced entry.
CCTV footage shows a Volkswagen van with tinted windows driving in and around Clarence Avenue between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on 11 March. Detectives appealed for help identifying the vehicle and driver.
The inquest at West London Coroners Court in April 2021 concluded he was unlawfully killed. A postmortem found his death was consistent with being killed using a neck-hold from behind. There were no defensive injuries suggesting a sustained struggle.
Mr Glushkov, a retired financial director, was granted political asylum in the UK in 2010 after fleeing Russia when he was accused of stealing £87m from the Aeroflot airline. He was convicted and jailed for eight years in his absence in Russia in 2017. He had been due to attend the commercial court in London on the day his body was discovered.
The Metropolitan Police said they had taken more than 420 statements from 1,800 witnesses and viewed 2,200 hours of CCTV footage.
Commander Richard Smith, head of the MPS Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This has been a hugely complex, challenging investigation from the outset. Officers have taken hundreds of statements and collected a large amount of evidential material, but so far no arrests have been made. We are again asking the public, particularly people who live in or visit the New Malden area, to cast their minds back to 12 March 2018. Did you see a black Volkswagen van in or around Clarence Avenue that day? Did you see anything that in retrospect was unusual or suspicious? Anything you can recall might be crucial to our investigation.”
Call police on 0800 789 321 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Jermaine Johnson, 41, was stabbed to death in Vallentin Road, Walthamstow, at around 9.50pm on 19 March 2018.
A 17 year-old man was charged with murder on 23 March but the case was discontinued on 13 June 2018.
Abraham Badru, 26, was shot in the chest near his home in Ferncliff Road, Hackney, at around 11.11pm on 25 March 2018. He was attacked as he opened the boot of his black Mercedes to get a drink while on the phone to a female friend.
Mr Badru, a personal trainer and aspiring PhD student who was awarded a police bravery award in 2009 after giving evidence as a witness in a rape trial, was pronounced dead minutes later. Police offered a £20,000 reward for information and described the suspect as a black male wearing a black puffer type jacket who cycled away on a white bike.
While the motive remains unclear, detectives said Abraham had a number of girlfriends and may have been seeing a woman who was in another relationship. He may also have been targeted in a case of mistaken identity.
Appealing for witnesses to come forward, Mr Badru’s mother Ronke said: “Abraham was my only son but it was like having a thousand sons. He was my joy and my reason for living, he made me happy all of my life. Since that day I have put on a brave face but in reality things are very different. I have had to quit my job as I found it too difficult to cope and I cry for my son every day. His graduation photograph is the background on my phone and every time I look at it I remember how proud he made me. Now all I have left is these memories. There are people out there who know what happened to Abraham and I would ask them to provide information anonymously – anything you say might help.”
The inquest in March 2022 heard police found no evidence linking any of the suspects convicted of the gang rape to Abraham’s murder. Read the full court report on the case (subscribers only)
Reece Tshoma, 23, was stabbed to death in Plumstead on 29 March 2018. Detectives believe he was attacked in Nathan Way near the railway station before calling a friend to take him to hospital for treatment to a neck injury some time before 8.37pm. Contact the incident room on 0208 721 4805.
Devoy Stapleton, 20, was stabbed to death after leaving a bar in Earlsfield on 1 April 2018. He was found injured in Ellerton Road close to the junction with Burntwood Lane at around 1.10am and pronounced dead at the scene at 1.55am. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder but the case was discontinued before trial and remains unsolved. Contact the incident room on 020 8721 4054.
Tanesha Melbourne-Blake, 17, was shot dead in Chalgrove Road, Tottenham, at 9.35pm on 2 April 2018.
Detectives said she was hit in the heart when shots were fired from a car into a group of people gathered outside a block of flats.
The car, a grey/silver Vauxhall Meriva people carrier with the registration number of KS56 NKG, was found burnt out in Fordham Road, Barnet, five days later.
The gun used to kill her – a Czech-made Browning – had also been used to murder 20-year-old Joseph Williams-Torres in Walthamstow on 14 March and three other gang shootings in 2017 before being offloaded to another gang
It is thought that the shooting which killed Tanesha was carried out as part of an ongoing dispute between gangs in Tottenham (NPK) and Wood Green (WGM/22).
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “There is no suggestion the murders of Tanesha and Joseph are linked in terms of what happened but we know the same gun was used. Fortunately this very dangerous weapon is now off the streets but we believe it was a ‘gun to hire’ in the local area from at least May 2017. It killed two people and we know it was also used in three other crimes. Joseph died in a gang-related murder – he wasn’t part of a gang and was mistaken for someone else. We believe those who shot Tanesha are involved in separate gang activity and she died as the result of ongoing territory disputes in the area. Tanesha had no links to gangs whatsoever.”
Tanesha was a volunteer mentor to young people at Bruce Grove Youth Space in Haringey, had taken part in anti-knife and gun-crime events, and hoped to become a qualified youth worker.
I just want people to come forward to say what they know, it’s heart-breaking. Tanesha was innocent and had lots going for her, a lot of goals and dreams. Everyone at the youth club loved her and it broke a lot of the children’s hearts, up till now they can’t believe what’s happened. Tanesha was not somebody who got herself into problems. She had friends all over, she was always a peacemaker. It’s disgusting how youngsters are able to put their hands on guns like this. They really should be into doing something better with their lives rather than taking other people’s lives.
Statement by Tanesha’s mother
The suspect who fired the shots is described as a black male with a “slit or two in his left eyebrow”.
Six men aged between 18 and 34 remain under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of murder but nobody has been charged.
Call the incident room on 020 8358 0100 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Amaan Shakoor, 16, was shot in the head outside Walthamstow Leisure Centre in Markhouse Road at around 10pm on 2 April 2018.
He was taken to hospital and died the following day.
Detectives believe his murder was linked to tensions between rival groups in the area and that Amaan was “on on the periphery of activity linked to gangs”.
The chief suspects are two men who were seen approaching Amaan outside the leisure centre before he was shot. One suspect was then captured on CCTV fleeing across the car park with a shotgun.
CCTV footage shows a suspect running across the leisure centre car park with a shotgun after the attack
In 2021 police appealed for the friends and associates of Amaan to “break the wall of silence”.
There were other people there when Amaan was shot and I’ve no doubt that even people who weren’t there know who was responsible.
I understand that in some circles, it is seen as a betrayal of trust to talk to the police. But I would say to those people, some of whom were close friends of Amaan, that not doing so is an even greater betrayal.
It is only by individuals being brave enough to come forward and break the wall of silence that has existed around this case that we will get justice. My officers understand what it will take for you to do that and there are steps we can take to support you if you do. But we need you to make the first move.
This young man’s family deserve justice and the chance to have some sort of closure. We will not rest until we identify those responsible and bring them before the courts.
DCI Perry Benton
Call detectives on 0208 345 1570 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sami Sidhom, 18, was chased and stabbed to death outside his family home in Forest Gate on 16 April 2018.
He was confronted by three suspects as he returned from watching West Ham United draw 1-1 with Stoke City at the Olympic Stadium. Sami, a student at Queen Mary University, suffered multiple stab wounds and collapsed in Chestnut Avenue at around 10.50pm.
Detectives said the suspects may have mistaken Sami for someone involved in a fight in nearby Avenue Road.
CCTV footage shows a silver car approaching the end of Chestnut Avenue as Sami crosses over from Capel Road. The same CCTV show three men chasing Sami back into Chestnut Avenue followed by the same silver car.
Following the attack, the silver car and another car are seen to drive off.
Ten people have been arrested in connection with the investigation but nobody has been charged.
A £20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to a conviction.
Sami was a wonderful son. He was a kind young man who always tried to help his family, friends and colleagues, and was respected by everyone who knew him. He did everything right. He fought hard to win his place in society and some cowards in the dark stabbed him in the back.
My son’s killers are still walking the streets free of conviction or charge. I need you to provide the evidence to convict them. You know who you are and you have a choice. A choice to be someone that hides in the dark, or a brave person who sets the record straight. If you know the killers you already know they killed a perfectly innocent person for no reason whatsoever.
Sami’s father Samer Sidhom
In April 2021police appealed for an anonymous caller who has previously provided several tip-offs to contact officers directly.
Call the police incident room on 0208 345 3715.
Kwasi Anim-Boadu, 20, was stabbed to death in Finsbury Park on 21 April 2018.
Police believe he was attacked during a fight involving a group of people outside a birthday party in Roth Walk at around 3am.
A second man, aged 21, also suffered stab wounds during the same incident and was found in Seven Sisters Road.
The inquest in July 2020 heard that police did not have enough evidence to prove who stabbed Kwasi unless witnesses came forward to give statements.
Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, 17, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Kennington on 5 May 2018.
He was standing with a group of friends on the corner of John Ruskin Street and Camberwell New Road when he was shot.
Police and paramedics were called to Warham Street at around 6.05pm but Rhyhiem died at the scene at 6.56pm.
It was reported that he was a member of the drill rap group Moscow 17, performing under the name GB.
Two males aged 17 and 20 were arrested on suspicion of murder in June 2018 but nobody has ever been charged.
Detectives believe that the suspects used a grey BMW Series 2 Gran Tourer with the false registration plate WT17 CFK to make their way to and from the scene. The vehicle was captured on CCTV around the time of the shooting.
The BMW had been stolen during a burglary in Essex overnight on 23 December 2017 and its plates were changed from the original BP17 YVV.
Police are appealing for help tracing the history of the car since 24 December 2017 – including where it was kept and who used it.
A £20,000 reward was offered for information that leads to the successful arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Rhyhiem’s murder.
Rhyhiem’s murder shocked and angered people across London. We are determined to identify and bring to justice those responsible, no matter how long it takes.
We are confident that this grey BMW Series 2 Gran Tourer was used by the gunman. We know it was stolen from Essex and that it was being used on false plates up to and beyond the date Rhyhiem was murdered. I am appealing to the public to assist us in identifying who was using this vehicle and where it was being kept. Did you see it parked in your street? Did you notice it left in a car park? Did you see someone putting it in a garage? Any information, no matter how small, could make the difference.
DI Jo Sidaway, Metropolitan Police, speaking in 2021
During a further appeal in 2023, police revealed that none of the people who witnessed the murder had come forward with information.
In a direct appeal to Rhyhiem’s friends, DCI Kate Blackburn said: “I’m sure that people know who fired that fatal shot. Please give us the information we need to convict the people who killed your friend. We know that this would be a brave move on your part and we are here to support you in any way we can.”
To provide information call the police incident room on 0208 721 4005 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Rajesh Verma, a father-of-two, died 15 years after being stabbed in the head with a set of garden shears in Acton, west London.
He was attacked by a group of up to eight men close to the entrance of Acton Park, opposite Birkbeck Grove, on 31 August 2003, but nobody was ever arrested or charged.
Rajesh, aged 42 at the time, was treated in hospital for severe brain damage before being discharged, but was left with a number of ongoing health issues including epilepsy.
In 2015 he had a major heart attack, further complicating the existing brain damage, and was unable to move or speak for the last 18 months of his life. Rajesh also broke his hip in 2017 during a fitting episode. He died on 27 May 2018.
Our children were 11 and 13 when their lives were turned upside down. We chose to care for him at home in the way that he had cared for all of us.
Each member of the family helped to care for him. He was unable to think, move, talk or walk, but we still felt he could feel our presence and persevered. He required 24-hour assistance and we gave it. We watched him in the same position day after day. Life was all about him, but we all had hope.
The assault 15 years before, was random and unexpected. His assault left a huge gap in our hearts and continues to do so. His generosity and love for fellow humans did not deserve this. He was protective of the family but also of the vulnerable. He was a very popular man in Acton. Hundreds paid their respects at his funeral. There were friends and family but also homeless people, and local business people who he had helped tirelessly.
Rajesh’s wife, Roma Verma
A pathologist concluded there was a causal link between the assault in 2003 and his death. A verdict of unlawful killing was recorded at an inquest held at West London Coroners Court on 28 November 2019.
In March 2019 the Metropolitan Police issued a public appeal, saying they were now classing it as a murder investigation and offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
The attack on Rajesh involved ferocious violence by a group of men, one of whom, stabbed him in the head with a set of garden shears found near the crime scene.
We believe Rajesh was attacked after he intervened in a dispute between one of his friends and another individual. The suspects are believed to be local to the Acton area and are likely to still be living there or have links to the area. All were described as being of East African appearance.
This is a shocking crime and I’m in no doubt that people will have talked and boasted about it. I need you to cast your mind back to 2003 and if you have any knowledge of this horrific crime or the identity of Raj’s killer, then I implore you to make contact with us. We are offering a reward of £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Raj’s family had to care for him for 24 hours a day following this attack and this lasted for 15 years. For the past 17 years they have not been able to see those responsible brought to justice. It is imperative that, if you have any information about this, that you contact us. We will provide confidentiality if that is what you need as we are committed to solving this murder.
DCI Vicky Tunstall
Anyone with information can call detectives on 020 8785 8099 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-org.uk
Mark Tremain, 52, was assaulted in Albert Square, Lambeth, at 5.50pm on 31 May 2018. He died in hospital of head injuries on 14 June 2018. Call the incident room on 020 8721 4868.
Ishak Tacine, 20, was stabbed to death in Cavendish Road, Edmonton, at around 6.33pm on 27 June 2018. Police said a number of young men were involved in a fight involving baseball bats. Contact the incident room on 02083453734.
Latwaan Griffiths, 18, was fatally stabbed on 25 July 2018. He was found injured after falling off the back of a moped in Denmark Road, Camberwell, at around 6.55pm.
The moped driver rode off and Latwaan was taken to hospital, where he died at 12.22am on 26 July 2018.
Evidence heard in another court case suggested Latwaan was a member of the Harlem Spartans gang based in Kennington, which was involved in a feud with a rival ‘150’ gang in Lambeth.
Detectives believe that Latwaan was fatally stabbed following an attempted shooting targeting the rival gang.
Contact police on 0208 721 4205.
Seven-year-old Joel Urhie died in an arson attack on his home in Adolphus Street, Deptford, at around 3.25am on 7 August 2018.
The boy’s body was found in the upstairs bedroom he shared with his mother Efe, who managed to escape with Joel’s older sister by jumping from first floor windows.
Police believe the fire was started when a burning item was pushed through the letterbox.
Five people were arrested during the investigation but nobody has been charged.
Joel was the sweetest most caring little boy you could ever meet. He was so intelligent and always curious to learn new things. His smile and laugh would light up a room and he was so full of life and energy.
Joel’s mother Iroroefe O Edu
Police made new appeals for information in August 2022 and August 2023. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers said: “Joel and his family should have been planning for him to go to secondary school next month. They will not have the opportunity to do what many other families will be doing at such a defining moment in a child’s life.
“Someone knows why this happened; I would ask that you search your conscience and do what is right. Joel’s family deserve answers, and an explanation as to why his future was stolen from him.
“Our investigation will not stop, and I would urge anyone who has information, regardless of how small or insignificant you might think it to be, to contact us.”
We have now spent five long years without Joel and time does not make it any easier. Nothing will ever bring him back but we are desperate to find out who carried out this deadly crime. If you have any information or know anything, or anyone, who may be responsible for causing the fire, please come forward and speak to police.
Joel’s mother, Iroroefe O Edu, speaking in 2023
A reward of up to £10,000 was offered for information by the Crimestoppers charity. Contact them on 0800 555 111 or the police incident room on 020 8345 3715.
Ismail Tanrikulu, 22, was shot dead in Tottenham Cemetery at around 7.53am on 3 September 2018. The gunman is believed to have fled to Turkey after the killing. A suspected accomplice was acquitted of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey. The court heard Mr Tanrikulu had arranged a meeting at the cemetery to sort out a drugs dispute.
Elyon Poku, 20, was stabbed to death after a fight at a house party at a flat in Wilderton Road, Stamford Hill, at around 12.50am on 22 September 2018. Two other men aged 17 and 24 were also injured.
Police said there were up to 200 people at the party and have issued several appeals for witnesses to come forward with information.
In 2021, DI Martin Head said: “We remain committed to identifying those responsible for taking this young man’s life.
“It is still our belief that there are a number of witnesses who are yet to speak with us. I would strongly urge you to come forward and let us know what you saw or heard.
“Did you capture the attack on your phones? Do you have video or images that could help identify those involved?
“It is also possible that allegiances may have changed over the years. Please think of the suffering that Elyon’s family are still enduring and do the right thing.”
Not a day goes by when we don’t think of Elyon and what he would have been doing if he were still here today. We know Elyon is not coming back but it would be a great relief to the family if those who were responsible were identified and brought to justice.
Elyon’s father, Tony Poku, speaking in 2019
An inquest in August 2020 returned a verdict of unlawful killing after the coroner heard nobody at the party was either able or willing to identify the attacker(s).
Call the incident room on 0208 345 3865.
Guled Farah, 19, died after a drive-by shooting in Walthamstow on 22 September 2018. He was driven to hospital by his friends after he was shot at from a car in Vallentin Road shortly after 11pm. Mr Farah, from Newham, was pronounced dead at 11.38pm. A postmortem gave the cause of death as gunshot wound to the chest. Delston Galloway, 25 (19.10.93), of Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, was charged with murder but was acquitted on 27 September 2019 and discharged after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case. Call the police incident room on 0208 358 0400.
Moses Mayele was stabbed to death on his 23rd birthday. He was attacked in Manford Way, Hainault, at around 10.20pm on 12 October 2018 and was pronounced dead at the scene. A black VW Golf car, which was used by the suspects on the night of the murder, was later found burnt out in Park View Gardens. Three suspects were seen walking in the area carrying a petrol can. A 19-year-old man was charged with murder but the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in January 2019. Call police on 020 8345 1570.
Ethan Nedd-Bruce, 18, was shot dead outside Collins House in Armitage Road, Greenwich, at around 9.25pm on 22 October 2018.
Police believe it was a targeted attack linked to conflict between two criminal groups. Ethan was confronted by a group of males as he left a chicken takeaway in Woolwich Road. He was chased into Armitage Road.
DCI Richard Leonard said: “Someone out there knows who did this. It is not too late to do the right thing and speak to us about what you know. Help bring some closure to Ethan’s family who have been left utterly heartbroken by his death. Whatever the motive in this case, Ethan did not deserve to be pursued and attacked in this shocking manner. I believe the answer to who is responsible for this attack lies within the local community and I would urge anyone with information to come forward.”
CCTV footage shows the attackers waited in Woolwich Road in two vehicles – a silver Ford Kuga and a motorbike with a rider and pillion passenger – and then pursued Ethan into Armitage Road.
This atrocity has had such a devastating impact on his father and I, his siblings, the extended family, friends and the community as a whole. Finding the murderers will not bring Ethan back, but it will help to give the family closure that we so deserve. I urge members of the public, bystanders, witnesses and the community to come forward with any information that you may have that can help this investigation. We have to put a stop to people thinking they can literally get away with murder. This violence has to stop.
Ethan’s mother Cherie Nedd
Three men have been arrested during the investigation. A 26-year-old was arrested on 10 November 2018 before being released with no further action. Two men aged 24 and 34 were arrested on 27 May 2020.
Detectives are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
Contact the incident room on 020 8721 4622.
John Ogunjobi, 16, was stabbed to death in Greenleaf Close, Tulse Hill, at around 10.53pm on 5 November 2018.
Detectives said they believed he was “attacked by a number of suspects” and appealed for witnesses and information about a stolen black Audi Q5 and a light VW 5-door Polo seen shortly before and after the stabbing. A man in the Audi was seen filling up the car with petrol while wearing purple latex gloves about 10 minutes before the murder. The Audi was found burnt out on the Gunsite Allotments, Grange Lane, Dulwich, the next day.
A £20,000 reward is offered for information. DCI Richard Vandenbergh said: “I think it is quite likely that some people who were friends with John will hold vital information that they haven’t shared with police. They should think about his death at such a tragically young age, think about the misery caused to John’s family and maybe think about the reward too – and then make what is surely an easy decision – to come forward and speak with police.”
Contact the incident room on 0208 721 4961.
Peter Gouldstone, a 98-year-old veteran of the Second World War, died four weeks after he was assaulted during a burglary.
He was found suffering from a head injury and extensive bruising at his home in Evesham Road in Bounds Green, Enfield, at around 10am on 6 November.
The house had been ransacked and several items had been stolen including a 26-inch Panasonic TV, model TX – L26X10B, which has never been recovered.
Mr Gouldstone died in hospital on 30 November 2018. The postmortem gave the cause of death as “complication of a traumatic head injury”.
Police released CCTV footage of two men they want to identify in relation to the attack.
The independent charity Crimestoppers offered a reward of up to £10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
DI John Marriott said: “We have CCTV footage showing two men who we are still keen to identify, as we believe they may have information which could assist our investigation. I urge anyone who has information, no matter how small a detail, to search their conscience and contact police without delay.
“I appreciate the incident will not be fresh in people’s minds, but would particularly like to hear from people who may recall being offered the Panasonic television that was stolen, or who saw either people or vehicles in the vicinity of Evesham Road, Enfield that may have appeared out of place.”
To provide information to the police call 0208 345 3715 or 101. To remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
*In June 2023 Nicolae Ion, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle but prosecutors accepted he had nothing to do with the victim’s death.
Maureen Whale, 77, died after a burglary at her home in Bells Hill, Barnet. She called police at 6.10am on 4 December 2018 after two men gained entry to the property and stole her bag. A third man kept look-out.
Ms Whale, a retired air hostess who lived alone, was not assaulted but collapsed while on the telephone to the police operator and was taken to hospital. She died on the morning of 5 December 2018. A postmortem examination gave the cause of death as coronary heart disease, brought on by the stress of the break-in.
The Metropolitan Police said they were treating the death as manslaughter and confirmed they were also investigating three linked burglaries of jewellery in Bells Hill and Sampson Avenue and an attempted burglary in Raydean Road on the same night.
Maureen died for the few pounds that were in her purse, which is truly wicked and mindless. She was a fiercely independent lady and so adventurous travelling the world in her younger days; it is just awful she should die in such circumstances in the home where she had lived her entire life.
We really need the help of the public to trace these burglars. They are clearly experienced thieves, working as a team to target not just Maureen’s home but others that evening too. But knowing they are responsible for the death of a much-loved elderly lady may well have led to a change in their behaviour or conversations; they would not have intended or expected this tragic outcome. I am appealing to the families and partners of these individuals to help Maureen’s family get the justice they deserve. Handlers will also know who is responsible I’m sure. We’re not interested in you; we simply need information about what happened to Maureen.
DCI Noel McHugh
Maureen’s black handbag containing her personal effects was found stuffed in a hedge just to the right of the road sign on the outskirts of Ravenscroft Park, nearly half a mile north of Maureen’s home, several days later on 13 December.
We are devastated that our beloved Aunt Maureen when she should have been safe in her own home was confronted by three cowardly burglars who broke in whilst she was alone. I dread to think what went through her mind.
We will always have the terrible thoughts of Aunt Maureen’s last call to the police – it is heart-breaking. Our aunt was approaching her 78th birthday and remained fiercely independent – she had done so much good in her life and had so much more to give.
Those responsible are still living their lives, enjoying time with their own families. I would ask you to listen to that recording of what you did to this elderly lady, listen to the fear in her voice. You can still make a difference and explain your side of things. Possibly you didn’t realise she was in the house or that things went wrong. Please be courageous and contact the police today.
Maureen’s family, speaking in 2020
In August 2021 an inquest concluded her death was the consequence of a burglary. Police said that if the suspects were identified they would be charged with manslaughter.
A £20,000 reward for information has been offered by police. Contact the incident room on 0208 785 8099.
Richard Odunze-Dim was shot dead at a house in St Joseph’s Road, Edmonton, at around 9.15pm on 18 December 2018.
The 20-year-old student was with friends in the ground floor front room when two shots were fired from a shotgun through the window.
Richard suffered two gunshot wounds to the face and neck and was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.10pm.
Detectives have appealed for help tracing a black SUV seen on CCTV near the scene of the murder. The case was featured on the BBC TV Crimewatch programme in September 2021.
DCI Perry Benton, who is leading the Met’s investigation, said: “Richard was a student at Brunel University who was home visiting family for Christmas.
“His family are understandably devastated by Richard’s tragic death. It is approaching three years since this callous shooting and they deserve to see justice done.
“I am confident that people in the community know what happened and who may have been responsible. Allegiances change over time and I urge anyone with information about the murder and who may have been responsible to get in touch with police or Crimestoppers anonymously and share what they know.”
At least six men were arrested in relation to the murder but nobody has been charged.
Whoever knows anything about this must come forward and assist the police. Whoever is protecting these individuals must come forward. Our circumstances are no different – too many families have gone through the pain that we are going through now. We do not want vengeance we just want the violence to end.
Statement by Richard’s family
An inquest held in September 2021 heard Richard had no criminal record and police believe he was not the intended target of the shooting. A verdict of unlawful killing was recorded. Read the full court report (subscribers only).
Contact the police incident room on 020 8345 1570.
*Unsolved, meaning nobody has been charged, or nobody has been convicted after trial (except in cases of self defence).