Detectives return to scene in effort to find more witnesses
A week on from the murder of 20-year-old Lewis Elwin, detectives are returning to the scene to appeal for more witnesses to come forward.
Officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command will be joined by uniformed colleagues from Wandsworth borough while they hand out appeal leaflets and speak to members of the public.
Trainee electrician Lewis died after he was stabbed on Monday 18 April. Police were called to Penwortham Road at around 3.45pm where they found Lewis suffering from stab wounds. He died at the scene shortly afterwards. A post mortem later determined that the cause of the death was a knife wound through his back.
On the day of his death, Lewis was dropped off in Moyser Road, at the junction with Ribblesdale Road. He was seen walking towards Mitcham Lane at about 3.30pm.
While Lewis was in Moyser Road, he called a friend at 3.36pm and they made arrangements to meet.
At 3.40pm Lewis was then seen jogging along Penwortham Road from the direction of Moyser Road. He was heading towards Thrale Road where he collapsed.
The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Lewis's murder. Those with information will not have to give any personal details about themselves; all Crimestoppers wants is your information through 0800 555 111 or the anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Information given to police will not qualify.
Detective Chief Inspector Diane Tudway, leading the investigation, said: "I am of the belief that Lewis had already been stabbed when he was seen jogging along Penwortham Road.
"I continue to retain an open mind as to the motive behind the murder. There are a number of lines of enquiry ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident and I am very keen to understand what took place between 3.36pm and 3.40pm.
"We have spoken to a number of local people but have limited information about the events of that day. I am appealing to anyone who is yet to come forward to do so with the confidence that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.
"It is important that we build as clear a picture as we can, so that we can establish who attacked Lewis and what the motive may have been. We also need to find the murder weapon and identify where the attacker went immediately after the incident.
"I am aware there has been speculation within the community as to the motive behind the murder, and this is understandable. But we need witnesses to tell us what they themselves know about what happened to Lewis.
"Moyser Road is a busy residential road and runs between Mitcham Lane and Furzedown Drive, and I am confident more people would have seen or heard something."
On the day he died, Lewis was wearing a black jacket with a fur lined hood, blue jeans and black Nike trainers with silver spots. He was carrying a black bag with a Nike logo and a long shoulder strap.
In a statement, the family of Lewis Elwin said: "On Monday 18 April, my son, our brother, Lewis Elwin, age 20 was stabbed in the back on Penwortham Road and brutally killed.
"We need your help!
"We are appealing for any information that could help find and bring the cowardly killer or killers to justice.
"Words can't describe the pain and loss we feel. We are still in shock. We pray that this doesn't happen to your son, your brother, your family.
"But if our community continue to stay silent then Lewis's senseless murder would have been for nothing. Now is the time to come together and unite in our fight against knife crime; and the epidemic of murders plaguing our young men.
"Someone knows what happened to Lewis. Please contact Crimestoppers anonymously. Any information is vital, no matter how big or small to the investigation. Your name, contact details or any other personal information will not be taken or disclosed. But the information provided could lead us to Lewis's killer or killers and help him to truly rest in peace."
April 27, 2016