CCTV CLUES IN HUNT FOR CHEF’S KILLERS
Garage break-in linked to man’s murder
COPS probing the murder of a chef have seized CCTV footage from a garage which was broken into just before the killing.
Lionel Simenya was found with fatal injuries after confronting joyriders who crashed into his parked car in Edinburgh’s Fords Road last week.
Today, the Record can reveal that shortly before the confrontation burglars had attempted to break into Fair Deal Autos, which is just yards away from where 36-year-old Lionel was found.
It’s not known if anything was taken during the break-in but cops are examining CCTV footage as part of the hunt to find the killers.
Lionel, originally from Burundi, was found at 3.50am on Thursday.
Sources said he was sleeping in his car when it was crashed into by the joyriders and he got out to speak to them before being attacked.
Emergency services tried to help Lionel, who was described as a “superstar” by his employers, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Lionel’s family said: ‘We are profoundly shocked and extremely saddened our beloved Lionel has been taken from us in such a cruel manner. Lionel was a hard-working and dedicated chef, who had won an award for his skills. We would ask anyone who can help police with their investigation to get in touch.
“Anyone who was involved should search their conscience and realise our family have been left devastated by their actions. Hopefully they will do the right thing.”
A stolen Peugeot was abandoned near his body and is being examined by forensic specialists.
Police said they were still keen to speak to anyone who was in the areas of Fords Road, Stenhouse Avenue and Stevenson Drive in the early hours of Thursday, March 7 – particularly those with dashcam footage or who saw vehicles being driven erratically.
They added: “This death is very much unexplained and we are still in the early stages of our investigation.”