Woman who helped stab victim sought

Feb 1 2009

A woman who tried to save a man who was fatally stabbed in front of his three-year-old daughter has been urged to come forward by police.

Detectives investigating the murder of John Nii Kacsu Abbey in Croydon said she tried to resuscitate the boxer and may have information vital to the probe.

Mr Abbey was killed by a single stab wound to the heart at a bus stop on London Road on Thursday evening.

The 26-year-old from Croydon - who was known to his friends as King - was on his way to visit his wife who had given birth earlier the same day.

The Ghanaian man and his young daughter were just a few hundred yards away from the Mayday hospital when the attack happened.

On Sunday morning two men, aged 36 and 39, were arrested in connection with Mr Abbey's death. Officers are also questioning a third man, 22, who was arrested after handing himself in at a south London police station.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, who is leading the investigation, said: "The investigating team are urgently trying to trace an Asian female who was at the bus stop at the time of the murder.

"She was present with John Abbey and his little girl performing CPR on the victim before paramedics arrived. She may have vital information that could help in the investigation.

Police said Mr Abbey became involved in an argument with a second man, believed to be a former colleague, before the fatal blow was struck.

Mr Abbey's daughter was left watching in horror as paramedics tried to save her father's life. The victim was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.