Who Died Here? Places & Stories Of Violent Murders In London
Murder #183, Colin Hammond, Fulham......Colin Hammond, 65, was stabbed to death in Fulham High Street on October 25, 2012. Police and paramedics were called the scene and Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene. A postmortem later gave the cause of death as a single knife wound. A 27 year-old man was arrested nearby and charged with murder.
Photojournalist Antonio Zazueta Olmos is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this social documentary photography. From his book/project ‘The landscape Of Murder‘. To see Antonio’s body of work click on any image.
Murder #38, Negus McClean, Edmonton…….. Negus McLean, 15, was stabbed to death in Edmonton after being chased by around 7 young men riding bicycles and wearing hooded jumpers and face masks. Negus was then beaten with metal poles before being stabbed in the thigh and chest with such force that the blade snapped off in his body. He was found injured in Westminster Road and died after being taken to hospital. 4 young men were charged and convicted of the murder.
Murder #39, Isaiah Bovell, Clapham……..Isaiah Bovell, 21, was shot dead trying to break into a flat on April 14, 2011. Isaiah’s body was found dead on a grassy area from a gunshot wound to the head. Police forced entry into the flat and found Raymond Andes, 39. When asked why he hadn’t opened the door, he said: “I was just smoking my last fag”. Andes was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 10 years.
The Landscape of Murder is a photographic series documenting all the sites where murders have occurred in London, United Kingdom between January 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2012. I have photographed 210 sites where a murder has occurred. All the murders sites photographed were within the M25 Motorway.
Murder #137, Luke Fitzpatrick, Dollis Hill……Luke Fitzpatrick, 25, was stabbed to death in Dollis Hill. Luke and his father had been among a crowd watching the Champions League final on TV at a pub. An altercation started inside the bar before spilling outside. Both Luke and his father were stabbed a short distance away. Two people were convicted of murder and jailed for life. A third man was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Murder #112, Seydou Diarrassouba, Oxford Street……Seydou Diarrassouba, 18, was stabbed to death in Oxford Street during the sales on Boxing Day 2011. Diarrassouba suffered two knife wounds to the chest after being attacked near a shoe store. He collapsed near Bond Street station and was pronounced dead at the scene. A postmortem revealed the cause of death was a stab wound to the heart. Two men were charged with murder but were cleared of the charge after they successfully claimed self defense.
Murder #65, Yemurai Kanyangarara, Welling……..Yemurai Kanyangarara, 16, was stabbed to death in Welling after getting off a bus with a friend. He suffered a single knife wound to the neck and died in hospital. The killing was the culmination of a feud between pupils at Kanyangarara’s school, St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School in Bexleyheath, and the nearby Blackheath Bluecoats. Three teenage men were arrested and two were found guilty of murder.
My aim is to give memory to what are mostly forgotten events, unseen places, landscapes where great violence has occurred. To provide “Evidence” to that which is mostly silent, private and unseen to the wider public. Most murders that take place rarely make the news and if they do occupy the news for a fleeting time. The Landscape reverts back to normality quickly after the forensic teams have collected their evidence. The project gives memory of the violence that has taken place. The scar is there, sometimes subtle, sometimes very open, whether it’s a single solitary flower or grieving family and friends. Sometimes there is nothing to show that a life has ended violently on the spot. The project has taken me to parts of London I knew little or nothing about. I have documented murders that touch on domestic violence, mental health issues, drugs, gangs and random meaningless violence. In the process of documenting these murder sites the project has created an alternative portrait of London, one shaped by violence and inequality.
The Landscape of Murder is evidence of what we would rather not observe.
Murder #20, Samuel Guidera, Sydenham……..Samuel Guidera, 24, was stabbed to death in a suspected robbery on February 12, 2011. He was attacked near Penge East station as he walked to see a friend. His wallet was taken as he bled to death in the street. Guidera was found injured and it was first thought he had been involved in a road traffic accident. A postmortem later found he suffered a single stab wound to the heart. The case remains unsolved.
Murder #174, Kevin Ssali, Lee…….Kevin Ssali, 14, was stabbed to death in Lee on September 15, 2012. Ssali was attacked on the top deck of a bus. He managed to run out the bus before collapsing in the street. Ssali died in hospital later the same night. Police charged a 17 year-old man with murder. The prosecution case is that an argument started after Ssali mocked the accused’s younger brother.
Murder #175, Shaun Chambers, Walworth…….Shaun Chambers, 21, was stabbed to death on the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth on September 26, 2012. Chambers died soon after arrival at hospital from a stab wound to the heart. Two other young men also suffered stab wounds during the same incident. Ricardo Blake, 16, was charged with murder and two counts of wounding with intent. Blake claimed self defense and was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter but imprisoned for 6 years for wounding with intent.
Murder #201, Evaldas Svolkinas, Romford……Evaldas Svolkinas, 36, was found dead in a stream in Romford on December 16, 2012. Police were called to Carter’s Brook near Wincanton Road and found Svolkinas dead from severe head injuries. Svolkinas had failed to turn up at work and was reported missing. The case continues and remains unsolved at time of publication.
