Detectives hunting the killers of 31-year-old Luther Edwards at Bethnal Green’s York Hall boxing venue in the summer are appealing today to the tight-knit community of London’s East End to break their wall of silence.
They have released images this-morning of two suspects they want to trace as the three-month murder hunt is stepped up.
They believe “someone in the community” knows the two men and are now appealing for them to come forward.
The images were taken from York Hall’s CCTV at around 8.30pm on July 29—two hours before the father-of-two was stabbed on the steps as spectators were leaving at the end of a Friday night boxing event.
The two men detectives want to question are both black, in their mid-20s who were wearing dark-coloured trousers and tops. One is seen in a hat with a white motif on the front.
“Someone knows those responsible for denying Luther’s two children from ever seeing their father again,” Det Chief Insp Laurence Smith said in a dramatic appeal this week.
“It has been three months since Luther’s murder and his family have been left devastated by his loss.
“His death has been compounded by those responsible not yet being caught.”
Police were called on July 29 to the stabbing at 10.35pm. Luther was found collapsed on the forecourt of a BP petrol station in Cambridge Heath Road, opposite York Hall.
He was taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, but died an hour later. A post-mortem at Poplar Mortuary gave cause of death as a stab wound to the heart.
York Hall that weekend remained closed and Old Ford Road cordoned off outside, as forensic officers examined the crime scene.
Luther was attacked by several men as he left the boxing venue, detectives believe. He was chased across the main road to the petrol station where he collapsed in a pool of blood.
The detective chief is urging witnesses or anyone who was at in York Hall or in the area to “come forward” as they could hold vital information.
“The answer is somewhere in the community,” he stressed. “I want to appeal to those who hold that information that I understand they may have concerns about speaking to the police—but shielding and protecting those responsible is not the answer. They should do the right thing.”
He is convinced “someone knows who the two men are” that they want to question.
Witnesses or those with information are being urged to call Scotland Yard’s Homicide Command incident room on 020-8345 3715, or anonymously Crimestoppers on 0800-555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Detectives are keeping an open mind about any motive. Eight men have been arrested to date on suspicion of murder, including one interviewed under caution, who are currently bailed pending further investigations. They are aged between 23 and 31. One is due to return for further questioning later this month, the others in January.
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