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WALTHAMSTOW: Murder victim named

3:36pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in


A MAN who died from a single stab wound to the neck has been named.

Kelvin Francis, 26, of Grenada, in the Caribbean bled to death after being attacked shortly before 10.30pm on Sunday.

A man and a woman were this afternoon arrested in Hackney in connection with the attack and remain in custody.

Mr Francis was found by a passer-by outside the Captain Fish and Chip Shop, near the junction with Hoe Street.

Police have not revealed where Mr Francis was living at the time of his death.

A leading councillor has today said he does not think the brutal murder carries the hallmark of a gang-related killing.

Cllr Afzal Akram, council cabinet member for community safety, said: “We would like to provide reassurance.

“We have not picked up any extra tensions in the area recently, and the victim was in their late-20s - they were not a young person, which suggests they are not linked to youth gangs.

“Also, the description of a man and a woman running away from the scene does not fit the profile of a gang incident.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or believes they may have information to identify the deceased is asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 1570.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Comments(28)

March Hare says...
4:03pm Wed 10 Mar 10

This is a tragic incident and one's heart goes out to the victim's family. However, I suspect the fact that he hailed from Grenada will once again open the floodgates to a tide of ill-informed commentary about 'foreigners'. Depressing on so many levels.

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devilsmojo says...
4:17pm Wed 10 Mar 10

It is depressing that March Hare has tried to hijack the murder into posting about his dislike of anyone having differing views from him

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yippeee says...
4:38pm Wed 10 Mar 10

My thoughts are with the mans family at this time...I hope his killers are bought to justice soon, but sadly with our justice system they will be realeased after a few years to commit more crime...

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yippeee says...
4:43pm Wed 10 Mar 10

I am so sorry if my yippeee name seems I am happy for such a senless crime but I registered that name when the bnp lost a seat on our council.

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AirForceOne says...
5:17pm Wed 10 Mar 10

March Hare wrote:
This is a tragic incident and one's heart goes out to the victim's family. However, I suspect the fact that he hailed from Grenada will once again open the floodgates to a tide of ill-informed commentary about 'foreigners'. Depressing on so many levels.
so are we to assume then that you are one of the ill-informed?

Its good to see that no-one has yet taken your bait.

Several words spring to mind when considering how to describe you. One that starts and end with a T seems quite appropriate.

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Earle Martin says...
6:05pm Wed 10 Mar 10

Redfox wrote:

Ah, there we go!

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Earle Martin says...
6:07pm Wed 10 Mar 10

Insert a "..." after the colon there.

Sort your comment system out, Guardian!

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trya says...
7:01pm Wed 10 Mar 10

it is my understanding that the young man was there on holiday.

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loughtonkid says...
7:14pm Wed 10 Mar 10

Never realised Walthamstow is a holiday destination...

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JackSpur says...
7:24pm Wed 10 Mar 10

loughtonkid wrote:
Never realised Walthamstow is a holiday destination...
Judging by the many different countries oooof origin of the people in Walthamstow it must be a fantastic holiday destination.

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March Hare says...
7:45pm Wed 10 Mar 10

AirForceOne wrote:
March Hare wrote: This is a tragic incident and one's heart goes out to the victim's family. However, I suspect the fact that he hailed from Grenada will once again open the floodgates to a tide of ill-informed commentary about 'foreigners'. Depressing on so many levels.
so are we to assume then that you are one of the ill-informed? Its good to see that no-one has yet taken your bait. Several words spring to mind when considering how to describe you. One that starts and end with a T seems quite appropriate.
I rest my case.

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larry g says...
7:46pm Wed 10 Mar 10

JackSpur wrote:
loughtonkid wrote: Never realised Walthamstow is a holiday destination...
Judging by the many different countries oooof origin of the people in Walthamstow it must be a fantastic holiday destination.
its good to know that pig ignorance and utter stupidity are alive and well in these columns.

a man has been murdered for gods sake....and the above comments are what we get.

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March Hare says...
11:18pm Wed 10 Mar 10

Indeed larry g, and just as I predicted in the first posting, although in this instance I'd much rather have been proved wrong. The triumph of hope over experience it would seem.

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Nairn says...
8:01am Thu 11 Mar 10

trya wrote:
it is my understanding that the young man was there on holiday.
have you never been on holiday to visit your friends and/or relatives irrespective of where they live or what kind of 'tourist sights' there may or may not be there?? Honestly....

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Techno2 says...
8:43am Thu 11 Mar 10

Nairn wrote:
trya wrote: it is my understanding that the young man was there on holiday.
have you never been on holiday to visit your friends and/or relatives irrespective of where they live or what kind of 'tourist sights' there may or may not be there?? Honestly....
May I convey my condolences to Mr Francis' family and friends?Contrary to what may be commented above, Walthamstow is actually quite an interesting place. I can well see why someone would include a trip here to see the sights as part of a wider holiday itinerary.

It is a very sad state of affairs though when such an apparently normal and reasonable activity should end up in this way.

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alexb424 says...
11:41am Thu 11 Mar 10

There is only one lesson to be learned here and that is that Walthamstow is a dangerous dump and it should be avoided at all costs.

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Walthamster says...
12:40pm Thu 11 Mar 10

There's lots to see and enjoy here, Alex, as well as visiting friends and going in to London. Tragic that someone was killed, but sadly that can happen anywhere.

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alexb424 says...
1:29pm Thu 11 Mar 10

It can happen anywhere but it is much more likely to happen in walthamstow. Look at the stats, its reality.

When I lived in Leyton I had a misguided view of how bad Waltham Forest was. However, as soon as I moved out to an area that was pleasant to live, I soon realised the error of my thinking.

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JackSpur says...
1:48pm Thu 11 Mar 10

alexb424 wrote:
There is only one lesson to be learned here and that is that Walthamstow is a dangerous dump and it should be avoided at all costs.
You have a point Alex.

This person is not the first to be stabbed and killed in Walthamstow and won't be the last. I'm not going let it get me down but i will be more careful in that area although this kind of incident can happen anywhere.

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JonathanB says...
1:59pm Thu 11 Mar 10

As somebody who has a foreign friend stay with me while she holidays in London I can say yes, people from other countries do stay here on holiday. Staying with friends in Suburbs is a lot cheaper than hotels in city centers.

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March Hare says...
2:53pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Indeed, JonathanB, and while my visitors are staying here I always take them to see the William Morris Gallery, Vestry House Museum, Ancient House, St Mary's Church, The Village, Epping Forest, the Marshes, Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge, Chingford Plain etc, etc - stopping off at the odd pub or three en route for good measure. I've never experienced the least trouble but I suppose one shouldn't be complacent. Whatever the facts behind this incident turn out to be (and we should all reserve judgment until they emerge) the melancholy truth remains that another young man has died a violent death in Walthamstow Town Centre. When we find out why we need to work on developing robust strategies to prevent it ever happening again.

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Walthamster says...
4:35pm Thu 11 Mar 10

All good places to take visitors, March Hare. I also take mine to the market and for meals at local restaurants as good as you'd find anywhere. There's also their choice of music at the Standard Music Venue, the Plough, the Olde Rose & Crown theatre pub or Music in the Village at St Mary's church.

Sorry to get away from the main point, which is a tragic death. I agree we need to reverse the rising number of murders.

But Walthamstow is a wonderful place in so many ways. I'm proud of it. It doesn't have to go downhill.

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March Hare says...
5:53pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Well said, Walthamster, and such a pity, don't you think, that the council often appears to lag behind its borough residents in reflecting the sense of pride so many of us feel, despite the problems we face. Yes, they consult us, but do they really listen to what we tell them? It strikes me there's an awful lot of denial going on in the Town Hall.

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Walthamster says...
6:08pm Thu 11 Mar 10

100% right, March Hare. I grind my teeth every time the council does another pointless and expensive 'consultation' which it then ignores. (And let's not even speculate about how they award the contracts to consultants.)

I've never understood why the council is so hostile to Walthamstow and its people. The only thing I don't like about the place is the way you have to fight the council every step of the way to save anything. And pay the councillors' huge allowances while they're closing down everything we want to keep.

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AirForceOne says...
8:44pm Thu 11 Mar 10

March Hare wrote:
Indeed larry g, and just as I predicted in the first posting, although in this instance I'd much rather have been proved wrong. The triumph of hope over experience it would seem.
no you wouldn't.

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woodboy says...
2:06pm Fri 12 Mar 10

In response to the first post by March Hare: Your logic is very odd. I don't think anybody on here has made that racist link apart from you. I would suggest, therefore, that you shut up. And maybe read more.

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Ernesto Guevara says...
3:12pm Sun 14 Mar 10

IN TOUCH Conservative News letter

Ive just received a news letter from the conservative party in Wanstead, the local ward councillors crow about freezing the community charge at 0%. These Same councillors would have been at the recent meeting where workers were sacked so that the tories could make such savings. this is nothing to do with the current financial crisis (these cuts will unfortunatley come next year) but a political expedient so Cameron can spout off at the next election. Some of your readers may be interested to know that many of the upper echelons of tory councillors take £27000 a year in expenses. Will some of these councillors jobs go to save money, i doubt it. would we miss them ayway, would we notice they had gon?

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Walthamster says...
4:40pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Che - what you say about Wanstead is equally true about Waltham Forest, which is run by a Labour-LibDem coalition. Cabinet members pay themselves a minimum of £25,000 a year - many of them a lot more. They too are boasting about freezing our (very high) council tax this year. What's the difference between them and the Tories? Nothing, as far as I can see.

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