Tributes to ‘really lovely’ mother-of-four knifed to death on the school run
MET Police chief Cressida Dick believes heading the 2005 operation which resulted in the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles De Menezes made her “a better police officer”.
Talking on today’s BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs she “often thinks” about Mr De Menezes, who was killed aged 27 after being wrongly identified as a terrorist.
She said: “I wish, wish, wish it had not happened, but if anything it has made me a better police officer.”
DID, R4, 11.15am. POLICE looking into a house fire in Stafford on Tuesday that killed four children have bailed a 24-year-old woman and 28-year-old man who were questioned on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.
Police said they were released while inquiries continue. HEARTFELT tributes were paid yesterday to a “warm and wonderful” mother-of-four who was stabbed to death as she picked up her children from primary school.
The murder victim was named as Aliny Mendes, a devoted member of her church and someone dedicated to her three sons and daughter.
The 39-year-old had been walking towards the school in Stoneleigh, Surrey, on Friday at about 3pm when she was attacked.
A witness claimed a man got out of a black four-wheel drive vehicle, ran towards her and stabbed her.
Two men were later arrested in connection with the attack. They were held in Cheam, less than a mile from the scene.
Paramedics tried to revive Mrs Mendes after the attack but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A priest at her Catholic church in Epsom, who baptised her youngest child, yesterday revealed she had separated from her husband.
Father Gianom claimed that following the break-up, she had moved to a “protected” home in Streatham, south London, about a month ago.
Parishioners of St George’s praised the Brazilian-born mother and set up a crowdfunding page to raise money for her children.
One said: “Aliny was really lovely, anything going on at the church she was always involved. We did a dinner to raise money and she helped organise that. She raised money for people. I would never have a bad word to say about her.”
Father Gianom added: “She was a person full of life, she had to look after the children a lot. She had four children – three boys and a girl. The A MAN was shot accidentally by police as armed officers dealt with a suspected hostage situation at a south-east London pub.
Police were responding to a report that a woman was being held captive in a pub, Scotland Yard has said. An armed police officer then “unintentionally” shot a suspect.
Metropolitan Police officers are being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct after the shooting near Blackheath in the early hours of Saturday.
A woman called police shortly before 4am to report another woman was being held against her will by a group of armed men in the Anchor pub in Lewisham Road, the force said.
The man, believed to be in his 20s, was wounded when officers stopped a car that had driven from the pub to near Lewisham Road’s junction with Blackheath Hill.
“During the vehicle stop, a police firearm was unintentionally discharged,” a Scotland Yard statement said.
They arrested the wounded man, who remains in hospital with injuries not deemed to be life threatening.
Scotland Yard said one other man was arrested from the car, and five others were arrested in the Anchor. No woman was found during a search of the pub.
Detective Chief Inspector James Stanyer said: “It is vital that we hear again from the original caller. Officers rightly deployed urgently to the area following her call, and this has resulted in a number of searches and seven people being arrested.”
youngest was the girl and I recently baptised her.
“She was a person dedicated to the family, she was really a nice woman. Every morning she got up at 4am for the children. She made a lot of sacrifices for them. She did not work, she looked after the children.”
He added: “When she separated from her husband she left for Streatham. It was in a house – protected. That was about a month ago.”
Members of the Portuguesespeaking community in Stoneleigh and Cheam gathered at the scene of the murder on London Road yesterday, laying flowers and photos of her in tribute. A floral message at the
cordon read: “Aliny, rest in peace. You were so warm and such a wonderful mum. There are no words.”
The two suspects were arrested near Cheam Leisure Centre around 90 minutes after the stabbing. A man in his 40s from Epsom was detained on suspicion of murder and a man in his 50s from London on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both remained in police custody last night.
Chief Inspector Michael Hodder said: “This was a tragedy. The victim’s children are being provided with the support and care they need. At this time we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.”