Crimewatch To Feature Sydenham Murder

To further investigations, a reconstruction of the murder of Samuel Guidera in Sydenham will be featured this evening on BBC Crimewatch.

The programme will be broadcast at 9.00pm on BBC1 and will show Samuel’s last movements, interviews with his family, and an appeal from officers for witnesses to come forward.

Crimewatch also reveal for the first time that Samuel’s wallet was taken from him in the attack.

Samuel Guidera, 24, was found collapsed in the street around 10.00pm on Saturday 12 February. He was only 200 metres from Penge East station, where he had just arrived on the train. Several members of the public rushed to help him, at first believing that he had been hit by a car as he lay in the road at Bailey Place, Junction with Newlands Park in south east London. Tonight, BBC Crimewatch will broadcast one of those 999 calls made by the public in those moments.

London Ambulance Service rushed Samuel to hospital but he was later pronounced dead. He had died from a single stab wound to the heart.

Samuel had spent the day watching football on TV with friends. He travelled on the 9.17pm train from Bickley to Penge East, crossed the footbridge over the railway to the Newlands Park exit en route to meet his friend. He went into the local convenience store before walking to the bus stop on Newslands Park where he was attacked.

An incident room opened under Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith who will appear on Crimewatch tonight to appeal to the public to come forward. Police particularly want to hear from people who were on the Victoria to Orpington Train alighting at Penge East Station at 9.41pm. These members of the public may have seen Samuel as they walked home, waiting at the bus stop or seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area shortly before Samuel was attacked.

DCI Smith said: “We urgently want to trace and speak to the people who were on that train, or had just got off at Penge East station. They may have information that would assist the investigation and it is really important that they come forward and speak to us. Sam’s family are devastated by this tragedy and how this young man’s future has been snatched away from him. We want to bring those responsible to justice and I am appealing to the public to help us.”

(BMcN)