Police trying to catch the killers of a 23 year-old peacemaker, who was punched unconscious after a Christmas party a year ago, have made a fresh appeal for witnesses.
David Joslin (pictured) was enjoying a drink with work colleagues at Winter's Bar, Mount Road, Chingford on December 19, 2009.
He left the party at 1:30am on December 20 and came across a confrontation between two groups of people outside the Strictly Silver Jewellery shop in nearby Old Church Road.
The first group of people, six men and two women, left The Obelisk pub in Old Church Road and were involved in a dispute with three men and a woman.
Witnesses to the fight said David tried to intervene as a peacemaker but was punched to the floor and knocked unconscious.
David, who worked for Morrison's supermarket and lived locally, was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital with head injuries.
He was later transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square, Holborn where he died on December 27.
A post-mortem confirmed that the cause of death as head injuries.
This week 18 officers returned to the scene appealing for any information relating to David's murder.
They hoped to target Christmas party-goers who may have been in the area at the same time last year when the confrontation occurred.
In an effort to try and reach as many people as possible officers handed out leaflets as well as using Bluetooth to send an appeal message to people in the area.
David's family has been left devastated by his murder and is urging anyone with information to come forward.
They said: “We would like anyone that knows anything about what happened to David that night to please come forward and give their information to the police.
Someone knows who did this. I beg you to come forward.
If you are not giving the information to the police because of loyalty to a friend or a family member, your loyalty is misplaced.
“The person you are shielding needs to be caught, they are extremely violent and are capable of doing this again.
“David's death has left our family scarred and with a huge hole in it.
“We had to sit and watch David die at the National Neurology Hospital in a drug induced coma for seven days last Christmas.
“He finally lost his fight for his life the day after Boxing Day.
“The last time we saw David alive and spoke to him was on the evening of December 18 at our son Andrew's birthday celebrations.
“We all spent a pleasant evening together celebrating and looking forward to a happy Christmas.
“How wrong we were.
“Our two children Andrew, 20, and Lauren, 18, had to witness all that went on over those seven days, and what has happened since - they have been left severely traumatised.
“This year we have to celebrate Andrew's 21st birthday knowing it is also the anniversary of the last time we all saw David alive.
“We currently cannot see how we are ever going to have any sort of family celebration again now that David has gone, especially at Christmas.
“To think that the person that perpetrated this act is still at large and can go out and get drunk and do this again is a truly awful feeling.
“The last year has been a living nightmare and I would hate to think that another family may have to go through this.
“Please, anyone who may have any information that is relevant to this case, can they please come forward and give their account of what happened to the police, so that we can have some justice for our wonderful son David and the rest of our family.”
Detective Inspector Steve McCabe of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, who is leading the investigation said: “David was a decent young man and an innocent person.
“He was trying to help stop a fight that he came across in the street, when he was punched to the ground and received his fatal injuries.
“The investigation remains very much open. I urge anyone who was there on the night or has information about what happened and has not previously come forward to do so now.
“We need the public's help in identifying those responsible for David's death.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3985.
If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
On December 29, 2009 three people were arrested in East London and one of them was charged with manslaughter - proceedings were subsequently discontinued.
No comments:
Post a Comment