Please help find my son’s killer
Mum’s desperate plea after fatal stabbing in bar
THE grieving mother of a 21-year-old man murdered in Eastcote at the weekend has pleaded for help to find her son’s killer.
Tracey Hanson said her son Josh, who suffered a fatal knife wound at the RE bar, in Field End Road, in the early hours of Sunday, was “a son that any mother would wish for”.
“He was a hard-working man who provided for his family. He was also carving out a promising career for himself. He had already made plans to see more of the world next year,” she said.
“Josh was always smiling and laughing, he made everyone laugh with his upbeat approach to life.
“For all those who met him they only had good things to say and this is being reflected in the offers of condolence to myself, his friends and family.
“Please, if you know anything, come forward and tell the police who committed this horrific murder and inform them of their whereabouts.”
A murder investigation was launched following Josh’s death and detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses and information.
Police and paramedics were called to the RE bar at 1.10am on Sunday where they found Josh with a severe knife wound to his neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination was due to take place at Uxbridge yesterday as the Gazette went to press.
Josh lived with his mum in Kingsbury. He had a girlfriend and worked as a roads planner for Stanmore Quality Surfacing (SQS) near Brent Cross.
Well wishers have been leaving floral tributes outside the nightclub this week where the incident has left the bar’s neighbours shocked.
A worker at Anything Goes! shop said: “We don’t have this in Eastcote, it’s completely shocking.
“I just feel so sorry for his family, he was so young.
POLICE investigating the murder of 21-year-old Josh Hanson in Eastcote believe he may have been the victim of an unprovoked attack.
Officers believe that Josh had visited the RE bar in Field End Road on Saturday evening with friends and his girlfriend.
He was approached by a man, who he did not know, police said, and stabbed once in the neck in an attack that lasted just seconds.
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from the homicide and major crime command, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the RE bar between midnight and the time of the incident, just after 1am, to contact us.
“There were 30-40 people in the bar at the time, many of whom left the venue as paramedics worked to save Josh’s life.
“It is imperative these people contact us to let us know what they saw.
“We are also keen to hear from anyone who was in Field End Road area around 1am Sunday morning who may have seen or heard anything that they now think might be because of the incident at the RE bar.
“I would also appeal to anyone who had been at the RE bar throughout Saturday night, even if they left before Josh was attacked, to contact us.
“Even if you think you did not see anything we need to account for everyone who was there that night.
“Most people in the bar would have known each other and someone will know who the killer is and where he is now.
“Josh was a hardworking young lad, up at 5am for his job as a roads planner and often working seven days a week.
“He had everything to live for and when he went out that Saturday night no one could have imagined what would happen to him. His family are in pieces.”
Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
There have been no arrests at present and enquiries continue.