Local News Stories

Bexleyheath stab victim identified as community pays tribute

Metropolitan Police have released the identity of a man stabbed to death in Bexleyheath last Thursday.  The stabbing occurred at around 7.30pm at Bynon Avenue and the victim has now been formally revealed as 36 year old local, Frederick Moore who died of stab wounds to the chest. Several ambulances and an air ambulance arrived at the scene but were helpless to save the victim.

Police arrested a total of eleven people; seven on suspicion of murder and on four on charges of GBH to one of the other suspects. Portuguese national and murder suspect, Andre Riberio, 20 was taken to South London hospital with head wounds only to be discharged later that evening.  Riberio is due to appear before Greenwich magistrates on December 12^th to plead to the charges of murder.

Following interviews, three suspects have been released with no further action; two 61 and 42 year old men and a 30 year old woman.  Six men who cannot be identified but whose ages are 19, 20,21,22,36 and 28 have been bailed pending further enquiries and are obliged to return to South London police station in January of next year for a full investigation.

Sadly this is the second stabbing within two months in Bexleyheath bringing back horrific memories of Sally Hodkin’s death in October. Hodkin, 59 was stabbed to death in a busy Bexleyheath high street in an unprovoked, random attack by Nicola Edgington who had a well-documented history of mental health problems.  Edgington is due to appear before the criminal courts charged with murder on the 17^th January.

Residents are appalled at the recent spate of tragic deaths and the incidents certainly raise some questions regarding safety.  Ayman Elbadawi, 21, is a student who lives in Bexleyheath and he has been shocked at the murders: “I couldn’t believe it, the first time was shocking enough, I remember how the whole town was closed off, no one knew what was really going on there was a sense of panic. Now it has happened again it really does make you think. These were random attacks; it’s a scary thought that it could be you just as easy as the poor victims. I don’t know what a solution is, maybe have more police manning the streets would be helpful, it’s just unerring really. My thoughts are with his family, it’s terrible, especially so close to Christmas.”

Locals were quick to lay their tributes to Moore with a mural in place where the incident occurred. Flowers and messages of condolences and goodwill are strewn over what used to be a quiet, safe cul-de-sac.

If you have any information regarding Moore’s murder please contact the Metropolitan Incident room on 0208 721 4868 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.