Sisters stabbed to death in park ‘by a stranger’
‘A man scaring women in the area’
Two sisters stabbed to death following a birthday party were murdered by a stranger, police said yesterday.
Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, had met friends and family in a park and remained there past midnight when other partygoers left.
The bodies of the siblings, whose mother wilhelmina Smallman was the first female BAME archdeacon in the Anglican church, were found last Sunday – two days after they were last seen.
Police believe their killer was injured in the attack and suffered significant bleeding.
Yesterday, in an appeal to the public, Scotland Yard’s Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: ‘Do you know anyone who has been wounded in the last week who is unable to account for their injuries? Has someone returned home and perhaps acted suspiciously or tried to hide something from you?’
He added: ‘we can now say with some certainty that Nicole and Bibaa were murdered by someone who was unknown to them.’
The killer struck in Fryent Country Park wembley, north-west London, last Friday.
Mr Harding said investigators were searching a large area, including a pond, and trawling thousands of tons of rubbish which may contain evidence accidentally cleared from the scene.
A 36-year-old man was arrested in south London on suspicion of murder but was later released with no action taken.
No more arrests have been made. Locals said a warning that a man was ‘killing people’ in the area had been circulated on social media days before the murders.
The warning, circulated on social media site Snapchat, urged women to beware of a man in the area.
Amanda Jacob Da Silva, a 40year-old secretary, said: ‘My daughter told me there was a man walking around the area scaring women some time before the girls got killed. Her friend was talking about it.’
Her 15-year-old daughter, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It said people in Brent be careful because there is a man going around north-west London. That was about a week ago.
‘It said for people around Brent to beware, tell people where you are if you are going out and to call people if you are out by yourself – especially girls. It said there is a man going around killing people and the person on the Snapchat said tell people where you are.’
Tributes to Nicole and Bibaa, a senior social worker, were led by their mother’s former colleague Acting Bishop of Chelmsford, Reverend Peter Hill, who said: ‘we are devastated to hear of the tragic deaths of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry in north London at the weekend.
‘Nicole and Bibaa were the daughters of our former Archdeacon and good friend Mina Smallman. This is heartbreaking news and the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Chelmsford Diocese are with Mina and her family.
‘we ask that their privacy is respected and for everyone’s prayers at this most difficult of times.’
South London actress Paisley Billings tweeted: ‘I’m in shock right now... RIP Nicole Smallman you were always such a joy to be around. Your energy was beautiful, kind and infectious.’