First pic of ‘innocent’ newsagent, 54, stabbed to death opening shop in London ‘for a few pounds’
THE newsagent who was stabbed to death "for a few pounds" in North West London has been named as Ravi Katharkamar.
Mr Katharkamar, 54, was found knifed in his Pinner shop about 6am on Sunday and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Met Police today confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder after the attack at the Marsh Food and Wine shop.
The 44-year-old man was arrested in Harrow on Wednesday, and remains in custody.
Shop landlord Kirit Dodiya, 49, paid tribute to Mr Katharkamar, his client.
He said: "He was a top guy. I would see him inside the shop. We manage other shops on the road.
"I spoke to him a few times and he was a gentleman. It was such a shock for me personally, I spoke to him on Friday.
"He was always smiling, always. You would walk into the shop and he would offer you something always.
"We want to give a tribute ourselves and send flowers."
His attacker fled the scene with the till and police say it may have been discarded.
Cops are also appealing to witnesses who may have seen a black Vauxhall Astra that drove away at speed down Cecil Park.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe said: "This was a vicious and unwarranted attack on a completely innocent man.
"Ravi's attacker got away with a few pounds worth of coins, but he leaves behind a family utterly devastated and a close-knit community asking who could do such a thing.
This was a vicious and unwarranted attack on a completely innocent man
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe
"The attacker fled with a shop till - have you found this discarded or seen someone in possession of a shop till who wouldn't normally have one? Do you know someone trying to use lots of loose change since Sunday morning?
"I am also keen to hear from anyone who has information about a black Vauxhall Astra that the attacker used to drive away from the scene.
"This was parked in Cecil Park prior to the murder and was drive off at speed, south down Cecil Park immediately after the attack. If you saw this car, or have seen a black Vauxhall Astra abandoned, please contact my team."
A spate of attacks were reported the same night, with cops finding two teenagers stabbed and a third with a head injury in Harrow Road, Westminster.
All three were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries after police were called to the scene at 10.30pm.
Pinner is a fairly prosperous, leafy suburb. A very safe part of the world. It's a real shock this has happened
Pinner councillor Norman Stevenson
Seven miles away in Hackney, East London, a man in his 40s was left fighting for his life after he was stabbed in Dalston Lane at 3.15am the same morning.
A teenager was also raced to hospital with non-critical injuries after he was stabbed shortly before midnight in St Matthews Road, Brixton, South London.
On the same night a man in his 20s was stabbed in Barkingside High Street before he was rushed to hospital.
His condition is not life threatening, police said.
The horrifying night of violence comes amid a spiralling knife crime epidemic in the UK.
Pinner councillor Norman Stevenson said he was "shocked" at the Marsh Road murder.
"Pinner is a fairly prosperous, leafy suburb," he said. "A very safe part of the world. It's a real shock this has happened.
Knife-related homicides has gone from 272 in 2007 to 186 in 2015, rising again sharply in 2017-18, when there were 285 killings, the highest figure since 1946.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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