Family of 2011 murder victim Samuel Guidera appeal for information

12 February 2013

Appeal type

Incident Date

12/02/2011

Incident Location

Newlands park, SE26

Description

At 21:55hrs on Saturday 12 February 2011, Samuel was found collapsed in the street at Bailey Place, junction with Newlands Park, SE26 - approximately 200 metres from Penge East station.

He was taken by ambulance to hospital and was pronounced dead at 22:55hrs. His wallet had been taken from him in the attack.

He was Samuel Guidera [pronounced Good-era] (6.10.86 - 24 ys) a student of history and politics at the University of Greenwich

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as a single stab wound to the heart.

Samuel had spent the day watching football on television with friends. He travelled on the 21:17hrs train from Bickley to Penge East, arriving just before 21:30hrs.

He crossed the footbridge over the railway to the Newlands Park exit en route to meet his girlfriend.

Samuel's girlfriend Claire Smith said:

"Two years on, I want to know what gave these people the right to end Sam's life like that. His desperate attempt to call 999 before he lost consciousness, the panic he must have felt when he realised what was happening, the loneliness of dying in the street without a single person who knew his name; these things will haunt me forever, but Sam actually went through them. And for what?

"I think we have all come to realise that time simply gives you the means to learn how to pretend that everything is okay. Life forces you to carry on and be "normal". Even wonderful things that have happened since Sam was killed have a bitterness surrounding them, like the new babies that have been born into his family that will never know him, the celebrations that have happened with a piece missing.

"Sam was studying History and Politics and would have been an amazing teacher. He never felt that he was better than anyone else; he was friends with people from every walk of life. Everyone who knew Samuel is so proud to have known him and shared a part of his life. I feel so privileged to have been able to say "I love you" and hear him say it back. Now we direct those words to a hole in the ground and hear nothing but silence in response. He was 24- years-old. There will never be a time that I stop dreaming of seeing that smile again."

Samuel's mother and father, Sarah Guidera and Chris Guidera, said:

"From the moment Samuel was murdered on the 12 February 2011, we as his parents started a life sentence from which we will never be released.

"We still feel a sense of anger and all we can do is continue to cope with each day as it comes, with the help of medication, family, friends, whatever it takes. As parents we have seen the devastation and heartbreak it has caused Sam's brother and sister, other family members and friends. We just want somebody out there who knows something that could help in the apprehending of the killers to come forward so they do not have the opportunity to take another person's life and destroy another family. It could be somebody reading this who gets the call about the savage death of a loved one next.

"So we miss and think of him so much every single day, we cry, we love him so much. Time is not a healer, we will never get back to normal; the people we were before no longer exist. So please look at your son, brother, uncle, think how you would miss them and if you know anything come forward; don't let the cowards who took my son's life kill again."

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones: "Whilst two years have past since the murder of Samuel Guidera, the MPS remains committed to identifying and bringing to justice those responsible. I am convinced there are persons within the community who for reasons, be it family or other loyalties, have yet to come forward with the information they have.

"I would ask them to consider the devastating impact Samuel's death continues to have on his family and loved ones and appeal for them to contact the investigation team. The MPS continues to offer a £20,000 reward and I would stress any person coming forward will be spoken to in confidence with all measures to protect their identity and safety considered."

In previous appeals police released three CCTV images showing Samuel as he went into a convenience store before walking towards the bus stop on Newlands Park where he was attacked.

Detectives have also previously appealed for those in or around the shops immediately outside Penge East Station between 21:40hrs and 22:00hrs on the night that Samuel was stabbed to come forward. Officers would still like anyone who has yet to come forward to get in touch.

The video shows CCTV of all the people who were in and around the area when Samuel was murdered. It is available on the following YouTube link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtaUX_cEO6Y

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

+ On 17 February 2011 a man [A - 39 ys] was arrested from a residential address in Penge on suspicion of murder and later bailed to return pending further enquiries and subsequently released with no further action.

On 18 February 2011 a man [B - 18 ys] was arrested from a residential address in Sydenham on suspicion of murder, and taken to a south London police station. He was later bailed to return pending further inquiries and subsequently released with no further action.

On 1 March 2011 a man [C - 28 ys] was arrested at a residential address in Sydenham in connection with the inquiry and later bailed to return pending further inquiries and subsequently released with no further action.

On 12 Jan 2012 a man [D - 21 ys] was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was later released with no further action.