Knifed to death by a stranger as she phoned gran

Knifed to death by a stranger as she phoned gran: Woman, 31, ‘ambushed and fatally stabbed as she walked home after buying birthday gifts for her mother’

• Her grandmother heard her screaming down the phone during Monday’s attack 
• 31-year-old killed yards from police station near Brixton’s O2 venue, London
•  33-year-old man not thought to have been known to her was arrested yesterday

A woman was stabbed to death just yards from a police station while phoning her grandmother.

The 31-year-old had been walking home from buying birthday gifts for her mother when she was ambushed.

Her grandmother heard her screaming down the phone during Monday’s attack near Brixton’s O2 venue in south London.

A 33-year-old man who is not thought to have been known to her was arrested yesterday and was last night being quizzed by detectives. Neighbours said the victim lived with her parents, brother and sister and worked from home. 

Jacqueline Demontague said she saw the woman’s distraught father rushing to the scene shortly after 4pm following a phone call from the grandmother.

The 31-year-old had been walking home from buying birthday gifts for her mother when she was ambushed 

Her grandmother heard her screaming down the phone during Monday’s attack near Brixton’s O2 venue in south London 

A 33-year-old man who is not thought to have been known to her was arrested yesterday and was last night being quizzed by detectives 

She said: ‘She was on the phone to her grandmother and suddenly she began shouting and screaming. 

‘I cannot imagine how awful it must have been for both her and her grandmother. The grandmother phoned the woman’s father, who came straight out to the scene.

‘He was in a state of shock, of course. He couldn’t believe what had happened. Lots of other family members came out too – they were beside themselves.

‘It had been her mother’s birthday and she went out to pick up some birthday things and was on her way back from the shop when she was attacked from behind.’

Ms Demontague said a witness claimed the knifeman was all in black.

‘I’m not sure what it was for, for a mobile phone, a mugging or what. But what a tragedy, a waste of a young life,’ she added.

Another neighbour said residents had been desperately calling for more police because of anti-social behaviour and drug use. Despite Brixton police station being close by, he said there were few patrols.

Metropolitan Police officers yesterday cordoned off Stockwell Park Walk in Lambeth with a blue tent erected following the death of the woman, 31

Neighbours said the victim lived with her parents, brother and sister and worked from home 

‘In one residents’ meeting with police someone stood up and said it would take a violent rape or murder to happen before they did something,’ he added.

‘And look where we are now. A young girl has lost her life in broad daylight.’

Scotland Yard confirmed the victim died at 4.42pm on Monday.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, policing commander for Lambeth, said: ‘This is a shocking attack and my thoughts are with the woman’s family and friends.’

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