France - murder - United Kingdom
Scotland Yard appeals to potential murder witnesses
Friday 04 July 2008
Detectives investigating the murder of two French students in London have urged potential witnesses to volunteer any information on this particularly brutal crime. The victims were bound, repeatedly stabbed and left to burn in a blazing flat.
Friday 04 July 2008
By ReutersDetectives investigating the murder of two French research students in London have received about 25 calls from the public after appealing for witnesses, police said on Friday.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman urged more people to call with any information about the deaths of Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez. The 23-year-olds were bound, repeatedly stabbed and left in a blazing flat in New Cross, southeast London, last Sunday.
Bonomo had been stabbed nearly 200 times, while his friend received nearly 50 knife wounds. Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie said the injuries were the worst he had ever seen.
He told a news conference on Thursday that he had no idea why the pair were attacked.
Lines of inquiry include a burglary at Bonomo's flat less than a week before the fire and a man seen running from the scene shortly after neighbours heard an explosion.
"The level of violence used on these two victims was excessive. It was horrendous," Duthie said.
Professor David Canter, professor of psychology at the University of Liverpool, said detectives were left with a confusing and difficult crime scene.
"The ferocity of the killings is not typical of experienced criminals who want to get away as soon as they can," he wrote in the Times. "It points more to a confused mixture of habitual criminality and disinhibited anger."
The bio-engineering students were taking part in a three-month DNA project at Imperial College London.
Its rector Professor Sir Roy Anderson said the pair "had bright futures ahead of them", adding: "It is dreadful that their lives should end so soon."
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06/07/2008 17:41:12 Alert a moderator
Misleading crime figures
By Teddyboy -
Crime statistics in the UK are notoriously innacurate - for instance if a crime number is not given when a crime is reported it is NOT included in the stats - so crime levels are at the discretion of the local police. The British Crime Survey is a much more accurate measure of crime & has consistently reflected ordinary peoples experience rather than what the UK government would like us all to believe. For an interesting & fair look at international crime comparisons go to www.nationmaster.com. In overall crime the UK is second only to the USA and is twice as bad as France. As someone who has lived in Chicago, London, & Paris I would have to say that if you are in the wrong area at the wrong time then Chicago is the most dangerous. But sadly London is by far the most crime-ridden city when it comes to just everyday living for ordinary people & Paris is much, much safer. Simply the difference between living a civilized capital & and one that barely functions unless you are part of the wealthy elite
04/07/2008 22:41:37 Alert a moderator
Murder of Two French Students in London
By Anonyme -
Dear William,
You wrote:
"The chance of being murdered in France and Spain is higher than in England:
MURDER Figures
FRANCE = 3.9 people per 100,000 of population
SPAIN = 4 people per 100,000 of population
ENGLAND = 3.9 people per 100,000 of population"
Could you please tell us the source of your figures?
What has happened to the French students is unique. Only British people can do this to French people . Simply British people have shown how they hate French people ! It is a reality. Believe it or not !
04/07/2008 22:34:19 Alert a moderator
Murder of Two French Students in London:
By Anonyme -
It is surprising that the UK Police is now linking the crime of the two French students to a simple robbery while they have not even made any arrest. This is to minimise the extent of the crime and the associated cruelty and savagery. I do not think that other French nationals who have been killed in London were killed in a robbery attack British people should acknowledge that they are xenophobic and racist; and that they hate French people in particular. The nature of the crime is just an expression of racism and hate toward other nationals living in the UK. All British people should be ashamed of this crime.
04/07/2008 21:41:00 Alert a moderator
Barry, UK
By Anonyme -
I have lived in this part of London for over ten years...I moved here as a student and have now bought a home and have forged a life in South East London. It is an excellent community with a sense of pride. There are different communities and we all know each other. It's like a large village. This kind of attack...one that involves over 200 slashes and a fire...is one that can only be premeditated...and possibly as an act of revenge. Opportunist criminals do not bind their victims, slash them repeatedly then set fire to their homes. As nice as these boys seem, they are very intelligent and it would not surprise me if they were either involved in cooking up drugs or caught up in some form of illegal activity that seemed good fun at first.
04/07/2008 14:38:19 Alert a moderator
student murders bring shame on London
By mr lewis -
Someone should shoulder the blame for allowing these young men to live in such a crime ridden area of London,surely any students arriving in any country should be told where its safe to go.I,m sure there are parts of Paris that ordinary French people dare not go.Maybe its time to set up an advice line for students traveling abroad. Barry UK
04/07/2008 14:11:32 Alert a moderator
Murder of Two French Students in London
By William -
I have been watching broadcasts and websites and some people are saying the England is one of the most dangerous places in Europe, and we should not be sending our students there, but look at the facts released by the English, French and Spanish Justice Ministry's.
The chance of being murdered in France and Spain is higher than in England:
MURDER Figures
FRANCE = 3.9 people per 100,000 of population
SPAIN = 4 people per 100,000 of population
ENGLAND = 3.9 people per 100,000 of population
This is a tragic case, and my heart goes out to the relatives, but lets remember that murder, rape and violence is a Europe wide problem, and England is not at the top of the list on many of the crimes.