Killing of Battersea motorist 'motiveless'

An estate agent who was stabbed in front of his girlfriend in an apparently motiveless attack died in hospital yesterday.

Timothy Robinson, 25, was knifed half a dozen times in the face and chest on Sunday night as he parked his car in Battersea, south-west London.

He died in the intensive care department at St Thomas' Hospital in central London yesterday afternoon. A hospital spokesman said his family was "devastated" by his death.

Mr Robinson was parking his car at around 10pm after picking up his girlfriend Jemma Joyce, 26, from the West End. As she directed him into a tight parking space two men asked her for directions.

Mr Robinson, a partner in an estate agency in South Kensington, west London, finished parking the car and got out to ask the men where they wanted to go. They stabbed him half a dozen times in the face, chest and upper arm.

As the two suspects ran off, neighbours and passers-by were alerted by the screams of Miss Joyce, a student teacher. Mr Robinson was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Detective Inspector Gary Crump, leading the investigation, said: "It appears to be a totally motiveless crime. There was no demand made of either of them and nothing has been stolen. It is hard to put into words the ferocity and violence that was used for no reason."

Det Insp Crump added: "He was stabbed several times and the males then made off down the road towards the Doddington Estate."

The two suspects were described as black, in their early 20s and wearing casual clothing. One was short and the other tall. They were chased by a passing woman motorist in a Fiat Punto but they stopped and flashed a knife at her, forcing her to reverse away. A hospital spokesman said: "The family wish to thank everyone for their interest. They have also thanked everyone involved at St Thomas' Hospital."