|
|
 |
| |
Timothy Stilwell |
Murder ‘witness’ was hiding in a cupboard
Shopkeepers and tenants blast cops on ‘lawless estate’
A FRIEND of a man stabbed to death in a West Hampstead council flat hid in a wardrobe to avoid the attackers, the New Journal has learned.
It is thought the potential prime witness was too terrified to leave the cupboard until Timothy Stilwell’s killers had left the Rowley Way Estate.
The man – who has not been named by police – is currently being protected in a safe house but could provide crucial clues to the investigation into why Mr Stilwell was killed.
Mr Stilwell, 49, was formally identified at an inquest at St Pancras Coroners Court on Tuesday. No family were present, and police believe he didn’t have any children. They have, however, tracked down and spoken to siblings.
The court heard how Mr Stilwell died from multiple stab wounds. He was found alive on the floor of a flat on the estate in Abbey Road on Sunday June 18 but later died at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.
Three men arrested soon afterwards have been bailed to appear before police again within the next four weeks. The inquest will also resume next month.
Detective Inspector Richard Ambrose from the Serious Crimes Directorate at Hendon, who gave evidence to the inquest, told the New Journal that police are treating the murder as a premeditated and targeted attack, due to the state of Mr Stilwell’s injuries.
He urged residents not to fear further violence. DI Ambrose, who was present at the post-mortem, said: “People on the estate need not worry. Nobody else is at risk for the reasons Mr Stilwell was attacked.”
Police are still hunting for leads and are yet to settle on a motive. Detectives are still quizzing residents on the estate while the flat continues to be under 24-hour guard, 11 days after the fatal stabbing.
DI Ambrose described cameras on the award-winning estate as “unreliable”, and revealed police are yet to analyse footage of the gang of youths who smashed their way into the flat after clambering onto his balcony armed with lumps of wood and metal. Many residents insist the cameras don’t work, although the council have strongly denied this.
Lib Dem crime and housing chiefs Ben Rawlings and Chris Naylor, along with Lib Dem Kilburn ward councillor David Abrahams plan to meet with residents to listen to their concerns.
A man who works in the estate shop said Mr Stilwell had spoken to him about an earlier attack a week before, and complained that the police hadn’t “done anything”. The worker added: “He told me they were scared but that they had no choice – he’d said ‘we live here, what can we do?’”
DI Ambrose confirmed the mid-week attack had been reported. The shop worker, who has been there for seven months criticised the lack of support from the authorities.
He said: “We’ve given police evidence from our shop cameras and they don’t catch them. The boys that killed Mr Stilwell have been heard saying ‘the CCTV’s not working’. We’re left here to defend ourselves – there’s no law.”
One resident who has lived in Rowley Way for 15 years said: “If you get stabbed here the council will say ‘oh, the cameras weren’t working that night’. It is a lawless estate.”
A police spokesman said officers had attended an assault in Rowley Way on Sunday June 11, but that the victim “did not want to substantiate any allegations”. He added that CCTV footage from the shopkeeper had not captured the faces of the suspects.
A council press officer said: “The CCTV was working – and we are now supporting the police’s investigation.”
A police spokesman said: “The Kilburn Safer Neighbourhood team have stepped up patrols in the Rowley Way area. Their hours of work are determined by the needs of the community. If there is antisocial behaviour late at night they will patrol at night, however they might not choose to work those hours if the dog team are on patrol – but they do work in partnership.”
“In addition officers from the mounted branch – on horses – from the stables at West Hampstead police station have started to include Rowley Way in their daily patrol.” |
| |
|
|
|
