Fresh Appeal On Anniversary Of Joslin Murder

Detectives Investigating the murder of David Joslin in Chingford are issuing a fresh appeal for information one year on from his death.

The 23-year-old had been out enjoying a Christmas party with work colleagues at Winter's Bar along Mount Road. He left the party at about 1.30am on 20 December 2009, and came across a confrontation between two groups of people outside the Strictly Silver Jewellery shop at Old Church Road, Chingford.

The first group of people, consisting of six men and two women, came out of The Obelisk pub in Old Church Road and were involved in a dispute with three men and woman.

Witnesses to the fight said that David tried to intervene as a peacemaker but he was punched to the floor and knocked unconscious.

David, who worked for Morrison's supermarket and lived locally, was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital with head injuries. He was later transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square where he died on 27 December 2009.

A post-mortem carried out on 28 December 2009 confirmed that the cause of death was head injuries.

This Saturday, 18 December 2010, at 11pm officers will be returning to the scene appealing for any information relating to David's murder. They hope to target Christmas party-goers who may have been in the area at the same time last year when the confrontation occurred.

In an effort to try and reach as many people as possible officers will be handing out leaflets as well as using Bluetooth to send an appeal message to people in the area. David's family has been left devastated by his murder and is urging anyone with information to come forward.

His family said: "To think that the person that perpetrated this act is still at large and can go out and get drunk and do this again is a truly awful feeling. The last year has been a living nightmare and I would hate to think that another family may have to go through this. Please, anyone who may have any information that is relevant to this case, can they please come forward and give their account of what happened to the police, so that we can have some justice for our wonderful son David and the rest of our family."

Detective Inspector Steve McCabe, from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, who is leading the investigation said: "David was a decent young man and an innocent person. He was trying to help stop a fight that he came across in the street, when he was punched to the ground and received his fatal injuries.

"The investigation remains very much open. I urge anyone who was there on the night or has information about what happened and has not previously come forward to do so now. We need the public's help in identifying those responsible for David's death."

On 29 December 2009 three people were arrested in east London. A man was charged with manslaughter, however proceedings were subsequently discontinued. Another man and a woman were bailed to return pending further inquiries and both were subsequently released with no further action.

(BMcN/GK)