First pic of ‘innocent’ newsagent, 54, stabbed to death opening shop in Pinner ‘for a few pounds’
THE newsagent who was stabbed to death while opening his shop in Pinner has been named as Ravi Katharkamar. Mr Katharkamar, 54, was found stabbed in his shop Marsh Food and Wine at around 6am on Sunday and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was confirmed as a stab wound to […]
THE newsagent who was stabbed to death while opening his shop in Pinner has been named as Ravi Katharkamar.
Mr Katharkamar, 54, was found stabbed in his shop Marsh Food and Wine at around 6am on Sunday and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of death was confirmed as a stab wound to the chest on Monday.
It comes after a teenage boy, 15, was left fighting for his life after being stabbed in Forest Hill.
His murderer fled the scene with the till and police say it may have been discarded.
Cops are also appealing to witnesses who may have seen a black Vauxhall Astra that drove away at speed down Cecil Park.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe said: “This was a vicious and unwarranted attack on a completely innocent man.
“Ravi’s attacker got away with a few pounds worth of coins, but he leaves behind a family utterly devastated and a close-knit community asking who could do such a thing.
This was a vicious and unwarranted attack on a completely innocent man
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe
“Help me catch the man who did this. The attacker fled with a shop till – have you found this discarded or seen someone in possession of a shop till who wouldn’t normally have one? Do you know someone trying to use lots of loose change since yesterday morning?
“I am also keen to hear from anyone who has information about a black Vauxhall Astra that the attacker used to flee the scene.
“This was parked in Cecil Park prior to the murder and was drive off at speed, south down Cecil Park immediately after the attack. If you saw this car, or have seen a black Vauxhall Astra abandoned, please contact my team.”
A spate of attacks were reported the same night, with cops finding two teenagers stabbed and a third with a head injury in Harrow Road, Westminster.
All three were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries after police were called to the scene at 10.30pm.
Pinner is a fairly prosperous, leafy suburb. A very safe part of the world. It’s a real shock this has happened
Pinner councillor Norman Stevenson
Seven miles away in Hackney, East London, a man in his 40s was left fighting for his life after he was stabbed in Dalston Lane at 3.15am the same morning.
A teenager was also raced to hospital with non-critical injuries after he was stabbed shortly before midnight in St Matthews Road, Brixton, South London.
On the same night a man in his 20s was stabbed in Barkingside High Street before he was rushed to hospital.
His condition is not life threatening, police said.
The horrifying night of violence comes amid a spiralling knife crime epidemic in the UK.
Pinner councillor Norman Stevenson said he was “shocked” at the Marsh Road murder.
“Pinner is a fairly prosperous, leafy suburb,” he said. “A very safe part of the world. It’s a real shock this has happened.
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Knife-related homicides has gone from 272 in 2007 to 186 in 2015, rising again sharply in 2017-18, when there were 285 killings, the highest figure since 1946.
No arrests have been made in relation to the attacks. Police are investigating.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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