First pic of dad, 39, who died after having ‘throat slit’ in ‘row over cigarette’ outside London newsagents
Dennis Anderson was slashed across the throat outside a shop in East Dulwich, London, in the early hours of Sunday morning
A TRAGIC dad who had his throat slit outside an off-licence in a row about cigarettes has been named.
Dennis Anderson, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene outside an off-licence in East Dulwich, London, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The dad-of-one was fatally slashed across the neck with a six inch blade, according to one witness.
Police were called to the affluent south London suburb in the early hours of Sunday following reports of a man being stabbed at around 3am.
A shop worker said Mr Anderson had been asked for a 'free cigarette' before the barbaric attack.
The dad-of-one was described as a 'doting father' by friends, who said he was on his way home from a birthday party when he was killed.
He loved his daughter. He was a family man and very popular
Luke Roche
Luke Roche, 29, from Dulwich said: "Dennis had been at a friend’s birthday party last night and must have been coming home, but I don’t know what happened.
"He loved his daughter. He was a family man and very popular. No one had a bad word to say about him. I honestly can’t think of anyone he had a fight with. He just wasn’t part of that life."
Another friend, who asked not to be named, added: "He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.
"He doted on his daughter and was very loving."
A friend, who laid flowers at the scene but did not want to be named, said: "He was really jovial and a lovely guy. He was the last sort of person I’d expect this to happen to. He always had a smile on his face. He was happy and cheerful. He was peaceful.
"He was a family man. They meant the world to him. He had been out celebrating a birthday with his family last night."
'SLASHED ACROSS NECK'
Muhammad Khan, the shop's assistant manager, said his cousin was working when an argument erupted inside the store.
Mr Khan said the whole incident lasted around 20 seconds and, judging from CCTV footage which has since been handed to police, the blade was around six inches long.
He said: “They had an argument about cigarettes. My cousin was here, he was manager."
Mr Khan added: “The guy who had the knife came in about five or six minutes after the man who got stabbed.
“The guy with the knife asked the other for free cigarettes, like as a favour or something. I don’t know whether he knew him.
The guy with the knife asked the other for free cigarettes
Shop worker Muhammad Khan
“They had an argument and he took out a knife. Everyone was trying to stop him.
“A member of staff behind the counter and other customers tried to stop him too.
“The guy that was stabbed was bald and quite tall. They were both in their 30s or 40s.”
He said he had never seen the man with the knife before.
The assistant manager said the area was “very quiet” and they never had any trouble with customers.
He added: “We are always open late, but this is the first time.
“We have had no trouble around here - it’s very nice, all educated and wealthy people living around here."
Khuran Shafiq, assistant manager at the shop, told the Sun Online: "It’s definitely made me scared. It’s bad. Dulwich is a very good area, there are nice people, I never expected something like this to happen. I feel scared now.
"Everyone feels scared but we are trying to get back to normal".
The upmarket street where the killing happened is home to cafes, restaurants, a book shop and a clothes store.
NEIGHBOURS PAY TRIBUTE
Dennis' neighbours today paid tribute to the dad-of-one who was described as a "helpful and loving" man.
Debbie Andersen, 59, told the Sun Online: "He was just a lovely man. He was just a nice guy, he would help me with my bags of shopping.
"He did everything round his house he lived in with his Mum. He was a painter and decorator".
"It’s horrendous, it’s so sad. It will devastate his mum Vicky".
Vass Burton, 80, who has lived in the block since 1971, told the Sun Online: "He was a quiet kid and couldn’t have been better. I used to look after him when he was growing up.
"He had a daughter and he was a very doting Dad.
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"When I heard what happened I nearly fainted. I couldn’t believe it. He grew up with my children, I’ve got 4 kids who are a similar age.
"They are a very close family. It’s so sad. He was helpful and loving."
It is the fifth murder in the capital in a fortnight.
Last week Lajean Richards, 19, was stabbed to death outside his family home - less than a five-minute walk from Prince George's £17,000-a-year Thomas's School in Battersea.
Knife crime and shootings are on the rise fuelled by gang rivalry and disputes over drug markets.
Last year's homicide rate in the capital was the highest in a decade, with 132 violent deaths in London.
The Met Police are investigating the Dulwich killing but no arrests have been made.
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