…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
The family of 31-year-old Johanita Dogbey, who was fatally stabbed near her Brixton flat in a brutal daylight attack on Bank Holiday Monday, have paid tribute to her as “beautiful and kind hearted”.
Ms Dogbey, the founder of the Odette Foundation, a charity which supports people suffering from sickle cell in Ghana and Togo, was said to have been on the phone to her grandmother, who heard a “terrible scream” when she was attacked from behind.
A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody.
Ms Dogbey’s father, Yao, was quoted as saying “We have no words at this moment.
My daughter was beautiful and kind hearted.
I’m sorry, I can’t say anything more.”
Her younger brother, Maurice, added: “We are trying to understand what has happened and are completely broken.
As far as we know there was no link between my sister and the attacker.
We are waiting to meet with the police to get a full update. This whole thing has left us devastated. It’s too much for us.”
In addition to her family, members of the local community have expressed their shock and concern.
Detectives have been granted an additional 36 hours to question the suspect, while officers have been visiting local businesses and community centres to address concerns and offer support.
A post-mortem examination has been scheduled for Wednesday 3 May.
The brutal killing of Johanita Dogbey has shocked the local community and left her family and friends devastated.
Her family’s tribute to her as “beautiful and kind hearted” has drawn attention to her charitable work, and the fact that she was attacked by a stranger while returning home from buying a birthday present for her mother has heightened the sense of shock and disbelief.
The arrest of a suspect has brought some measure of closure, but it will likely be some time before the full details of what happened are known.
In the meantime, the local police have been working to reassure the community and support those affected by the tragedy.