Man Knifed In Front Of Daughter

7:06pm UK, Friday January 30, 2009
A man stabbed to death in south London was travelling with his young daughter to hospital where his wife had just given birth, it has emerged.

The 26-year-old was attacked at a bus stop in west Croydon after getting involved in a row with another man.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, who is leading the investigation, described the murder as "particularly tragic".

He said: "The victim's three year-old daughter was with him when he was attacked, though fortunately she wasn't physically injured.

"This man was stabbed in front of his daughter, and he died in front of her eyes.

"That is shocking and bad enough, but police have discovered that he was visiting his newborn son, born that very day."

The attack took place shortly after 6.15pm on Thursday night outside a Lidl supermarket near West Croydon railway station.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said several bystanders dialled 999 after finding the man lying on the ground.

The victim, who was black, was taken to Mayday Hospital where he was pronounced dead an hour later. He has not been named.

Police say they are looking for two black youths, aged 15 to 20, who were known to be in the area at the time.

They are also appealing for witneses.

DCI Lyons said London Road, where the incident occurred, is "one of the busiest roads in the area and people must have seen something".

He said he hoped that the tragic circumstances would "prick people's consciences to make them pick up the phone and call us".

A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

That poor litle child must have been totally in shock

How horrible! Poor little girl seeing her daddy being murdered.I hope her new little brother will help her get over this tragic time.I hope the father got to at least see his new son.RIP.

I actually cried when I heard about this...my mum told me after she'd seen the news.
This is really sad. Apparently a policeman said that he and all his colleagues found it really upsetting too.

God rest his soul x And look after his daughter, newborn son...and his poor poor wife xx