Fresh appeal for witnesses to Downham murder

Gabriel Petrov Stoyanov was stabbed on November 4th

Gabriel Petrov Stoyanov was stabbed on November 4th
Author: Aileen O'SullivanPublished 16th Nov 2022

Detectives investigating the murder of Gabriel Petrov Stoyanov in Downham say they'd still like to hear from any potential witnesses.

A murder investigation was launched after Gabriel was stabbed in Bromley Road shortly before midnight on Friday, 4 November.

They found the 21-year-old suffering stab injuries. He was taken to hospital, but died the following day.

Detective Chief Inspector, who is leading the investigation, Kelly Allen said: "Although we have charged three teenagers we still need to hear from people who witnessed the stabbing and the events leading up to it.

"Gabriel and a friend boarded a Route 181 bus to Grove Park at bus stop LH on Southend Road at 23:05hrs on Friday, 4 November. They weren’t sat together. At 23:06hrs the three suspects boarded at stop LK on Southend Lane.

"Gabriel and his friend left the bus together at 23:11hrs at stop DM in Downham Lane, junction with Rangefield Road. The suspect group got off two stops later at stop DP, junction with St Barnabas Hall, at 23:13hrs.

“The two groups came together again in Bromley Road, when Gabriel sustained his injuries shortly before midnight.

“I want to hear from anyone who saw Gabriel, his friend, and the suspect group, on the bus. Any information you have, no matter how insignificant it might seem, could help our investigation.”

On Saturday, 12 November, a 16-year-old male attended a south London police station. He was arrested and subsequently charged with the murder of Gabriel Petrov Stoyanov.

He appeared in custody at Bromley Youth Court on Monday, 14 November and was remanded to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 16 November.

Two males, aged 14 and 17, were charged with murder on Friday, 11 November. They appeared at Bexley Youth Court on the same day.

They were remanded into the care of the local authority and appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 15 November.

A 46-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released under investigation.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.