Reward offered to solve ‘shocking’ murder of Londoner
POLICE have made a fresh appeal for information about the murder of a father who was attacked in London in 2003, and died 15 years later from his injuries.
Officers were in Acton High Street, west London, last week distributing leaflets and appealing for information into the killing of Rajesh Verma, 42.
A murder investigation was launched in March following the death of Verma, who was assaulted by up to eight men close to the entrance of Acton Park.
A full police investigation was carried out in 2003, but no suspect was arrested or charged.
Verma was treated at hospital before being discharged. He suffered ongoing health issues due to the damage caused to his brain by the stab wound to his head.
In 2015, he had a heart attack, which resulted in a lack of oxygen to his brain. The father-of-two was unable to move or speak for the last 18 months of his life and died in May 2018.
A special post-mortem concluded there was a link between the assault in 2003 and his death.
A £20,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of his killer.
Detective chief inspector Vicky Tunstall said: “The attack on Raj involved ferocious violence by a group of men, one of whom stabbed him in the head with a set of garden shears found near the crime scene.
“We believe Raj was attacked after he intervened in a dispute between one of his friends and another individual. The suspects are believed to be local to the Acton area and are likely to still be living there or have links to the area. All were described as being of East African appearance.
“This is a shocking crime and I’m in no doubt people will have chatted and boasted about it. I need your call to identify Raj’s killer and that’s why we are offering a reward of £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.”