Witnesses say woman entered home ‘smiling’ minutes before fatal stabbing
A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a 19-year-old woman from India.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A woman entered a house in south London “with a big smile on her face” just 25 minutes before a 19-year-old woman was found fatally stabbed, neighbours have said.
Police were called to a property in Ash Tree Way, Croydon, at around 4.10pm on Sunday to reports a woman had died.
The teenager is believed to have recently arrived in the UK from India and a 23-year-old man who was known to her has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
A neighbour told the PA news agency the woman “seemed to have a big smile on her face” and looked happy when entering the property at around 3:45pm on Sunday.
Another neighbour said a man was later taken away by police with no shirt on and “looked very passive”.
The neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency several families live at the address, adding: “For about two or three months there’s been so many people coming and going.”
Three forensics vans were at the scene on Monday, with a police cordon in place around the property and a van parked on its drive.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the woman was found dead at the scene having suffered stab wounds.
The suspect was arrested at the property but was taken to hospital for treatment to a minor head injury.
The woman is believed to be an Indian national who is thought to have arrived in the United Kingdom relatively recently, the spokesperson said.
A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course and officers are still working to trace and inform her family.
Officers are not seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation.