‘My sister’s murder has left us devastated — we are broken’
DETECTIVES have been given more time to question a man over the murder of a “beautiful and kind-hearted” woman stabbed by a stranger while on the phone to her grandmother.
Johanita Dogbey, 31, had been buying a birthday gift for her mother when she was attacked near Brixton’s O2 Academy in south London.
A 33-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday and continues to be questioned by police, who have secured a 36-hour custody extension granted by Croydon magistrates’ court.
Devout Christian Ms Dogbey founded sickle cell disease charity the Odette Foundation and lived with her family about 300 yards from where she was attacked. Her father Yao said: “We have no words at this moment. My daughter was beautiful and kind-hearted.”
Her younger brother Maurice added: “We are trying to understand what has happened and are completely broken. As far as we know there was no link between my sister and the attacker. We are waiting to meet with the police to get a full update. This whole thing has left us devastated. It’s too much for us.”
Police say Ms Dogbey was walking along Stockwell Park Walk at 4.02pm when she was approached from behind by a man not known to her. Neighbours say her grandmother heard screaming down the phone. Ms Dogbey recently posted online: “Talking to my grandma really makes my day every time.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, policing commander for Lambeth, said: “My thoughts continue
to be with the woman’s family and friends as they come to terms with this awful news. We will do everything we can to support them at this unimaginably difficult time… We have extra officers out in the community to answer questions and provide a visible presence.”
Neighbours have spoken of their devastation at Ms Dogbey’s death. A mother-of-three who lives in the same building
said: “They are a lovely family and she was a beautiful person. We cannot comprehend how this can have happened.”
Another resident said: “They are such friendly people and the lady who died was wonderful. It’s a tragedy. I’ve been away and came back to this news — I’m gutted.” A mother-of-two, 52, told the Standard: “I was with her dad at the crime scene. The dad was broken and his family devastated. They have no idea why anyone would do this to her. They are a lovely family. The victim lived at home in a very close, loving family. They can’t believe what has happened.”
• Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 4728/01May
IT WAS a truly shocking event for our city. Johanita Dogbey was reportedly on the phone to her grandmother who heard a “terrible scream” when she was killed in broad daylight near Brixton’s O2 Academy on Monday. She was 31 years old.
Ms Dogbey, who founded sickle cell disease charity the Odette Foundation, is believed to have been stabbed to death by a stranger just yards from her home. Her distraught family described her as “beautiful and kindhearted”. The Metropolitan Police has said a 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
This appalling tragedy is the latest in a line of violent attacks against women in London, and will understandably leave a trail of grief and fear in Brixton and beyond. We hope the police investigation is completed as soon as possible, and that the devastated family can have justice.