Train stabbing: Man arrested on suspicion of murdering father as family pay tribute to 'honest, bright' victim

Lee Pomeroy was killed in front of 14-year-old son as they travelled to London for day out together

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder over the killing of a father who was stabbed on a train in front of his 14-year-old son.

The victim, named on Saturday as Lee Pomeroy, had been taking his 14-year-old on a trip to London on Friday, the day before his 52nd birthday, when he was stabbed several times.

His attacker fled the 12.58pm Guildford to London service at Horsley station, sparking a manhunt.

Officers detained the 35-year-old suspect, who has not been named, at an address in Farnham at 6am on Saturday. A 27-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Neighbour Grant Christy said he witnessed the police breaking into the building, taking a couple into custody and leading a young child from the house.

He said: “At six they smashed the door down, woke me up immediately, obviously.

“Initially I just heard the banging. Sounded like someone trying to kick the door in, that’s what it sounded like to start with. And then I jumped out of bed, put my ear to the door, listened to what was going on.

“Then I heard the police shouting, ‘put your hands up, turn around’, all that sort of thing and then it went quiet.

“They led her out first with the kid, barefoot, put her in a police wagon over there, then a few minutes later they pulled him out handcuffed.”

In a moving statement, Mr Pomeroy’s family paid tribute to the maths graduate.

“Lee took his son on a trip to London hoping to spend some quality time with him which was cut short by a horrific and pointless attack,” they said.

“Lee would have had his birthday today but did not get to see his presents. He was an honest, bright person, who loved music very much, he knew history and art and he was a bachelor of science in maths.

“He was a devoted family man and did everything for his family. He was an honourable man and would always help somebody who was in trouble. He was a loving husband and father. He will be deeply missed.”

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan, of British Transport Police (BTP), said no one else was being sought in connection with the killing following Saturday morning’s arrests.

He said: “We now know from enquiries we’ve been doing overnight and from witnesses that the two men were involved in a verbal discussion. That discussion lasted three to four minutes, it moved through one carriage from where they first boarded into another carriage, and that argument escalated to the unprovoked violent attack that sadly resulted in the death.”

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn, also of BTP, added: “Nothing justified the extraordinary violence that followed, and we are concentrating our efforts on the ongoing investigation.”