Murder on the 12.58
Manhunt as father knifed to death in front of son, 14, on commuter line
PASSENGERS watched in horror yesterday as a father was stabbed to death in front of his son on a busy train in Surrey.
The 51-year-old victim suffered multiple knife wounds in the attack just minutes into the journey.
Eyewitnesses said the killer, believed to be in his 20s, struck during a scuffle shortly after both men got on at the first stop. The suspect fled at the next station – and is now being hunted by police as armed officers scoured the Surrey countryside last night.
Detectives also revealed that the victim, who died at the scene, had been travelling with his 14-year- old son, who witnessed the killing.
The murder took place just one stop into the 12.58 service between Guildford and London Waterloo operated by South Western rail. Detectives said both suspect and victim boarded the train at the first stop – London road (Guildford) – at 1.01pm before a scuffle broke out.
Witnesses described how punches were thrown and the victim was stabbed and slashed across the neck. The killer fled at the next stop, the village of Clandon in the Surrey stockbroker belt. The service continued one more stop, to Horsley, where emergency services rushed to the scene.
Despite the efforts of air ambulance doctors, paramedics and police the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. One woman, who asked not to be named, said: ‘There was a lot of blood everywhere in the carriage. ‘I don’t think the poor chap stood a chance.
‘The police who were here first started to give him CPr but it was apparently too late to save him and he died while the train was in the station.’
Passenger Natalie Jones tweeted: ‘How those guards and especially the train driver went into action was nothing short of incredible.’
Horsley station was cordoned last night off while police, including forensic officers, examined the carriage. a coroner’s van was seen arriving.
National rail announced delays and cancellations following the attack, with dozens of services on the line halted.
Last night, Superintendent Paul Langle of British Transport Police appealed for information from witnesses as he revealed the victim had been killed in front of his 14-year-old son.
He said: ‘What we know at the moment is that the victim boarded the train at around 1pm at London road station in Guildford, along with his 14year-old son.
‘Traumatically, the victims son would have been nearby when his father was fatally wounded. This would have been an horrific and hugely traumatic event to have witnessed and we are providing him with as much support as possible.’
He said the knifeman, who also boarded the service at London road station, did not know the father.
The killer left the train at Clandon and there have been a number of sightings in the areas from members of the public. The suspect is described as a black man, about 6ft tall and slim with a beard and dressed all in black with white trainers.
One woman believes she may have come face to face with the knifeman as he loitered in fields opposite her home.
Writing online, rowena Dodwell, 46, said she found the ‘suspicious’ man who closely fitted the police description in woodland close to the a3 in Surrey.
‘I asked him what he was doing and he said he had an accident,’ she said.
‘Our road is private and so is the field. He walked off on the phone and didn’t want to chat. There was no reason for him to be there.’ Mrs Dodwell, who lives in a £1million detached home nearby, added: ‘Called police as he’s dropped a blooded hat in the field!’
Oliver Thompson, a 16-yearold student from Clandon, said: ‘It is definitely unnerving to think there is a murderer maybe somewhere in the village.’ residents said police dog handlers were roaming through open countryside around their homes as a helicopter hovered over Clandon and officers searched residential roads with powerful spotlights.
Detective Superintendent Gary richardson, of British Transport Police, said last night: ‘This was a shocking and violent attack which took place on- board a train in broad daylight.’
Officers from BTP are with the family and have deployed a spe- cially trained family liaison officer to support them through this difficult time. ‘We know that this was an incredibly frightening incident for passengers.’ Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: ‘ The incident near Horsley is tragic, and our deepest sympathies are with the victim and their family.’
‘Slashed across the neck’ ‘Murderer may be hiding in village’