Murder Hunt After Boy, 14, Sees Father Stabbed To Death On Guildford Train

Published on: 4 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 5 Jan, 2019

Horsley Station with a train from Guildford at the London bound platform.

A boy of 14 was forced to watch in helpless horror as his 51-year-old father was stabbed to death by a stranger on a lunchtime Guildford-Waterloo train today (January 4, 2019). Police say he suffered multiple stab wounds in “a vicious assault” witnessed by shocked passengers.

The father, his son and the murder suspect, not believed known to each other, boarded the 12.58pm train at London Road, Guildford. The suspect, who fled the train at Clandon, is being hunted. He is said to be black, in his 20s or 30s, short-haired, bearded, about 6ft tall, slimly built and wearing dark clothing with white trainers.

British Transport police and Surrey officers boarded the train at Horsley at 1.15pm with ambulance staff but were unable to save the victim.

Map showing Guildford to Effingham Junction railway line and Clandon and Horsley stations – Google Maps

BTP Det Supt Gary Richardson said: “This was a shocking and violent attack on board a train in daylight. Officers from BTP are with the family and we have deployed a specially trained family liaison officer to support them through this difficult time.

“We know this was an incredibly frightening incident for passengers on the train. We believe the suspect and victim boarded the train at London Road and we encourage anyone on this train to come forward regardless of whether or not they think they can help our investigation.

“We believe the suspect departed the train at Clandon station. People can expect an increased presence by BTP and Surrey Police officers at Horsley and Clandon as our enquiries continue.

“We would advise anyone who sees someone they think may be the suspect to contact 999 immediately.”

Potential witnesses can text BTP on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 210 of 04/01/19, or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Cllr Julie Iles

Conservative county councillor for The Horsleys, Julie Iles, said this afternoon: “My understanding is that this was a violent attack and all the more shocking in that it took place in our usually quiet area. This is not believed to be a terror-related incident.

“There is an increased presence of British Transport Police and Surrey Police officers and enquires are ongoing.”

A Horsley resident, known to The Guildford Dragon, when alerted to the incident by us, reported that what he believed to be a police helicopter had been flying over the village for some time.

South Western Railways have tweeted:And Natalie Jones, a Mancunian living in the South East, who was on the train, tweeted:

This evening Sir Paul Beresford, MP for Mole Valley, said: “News of a stabbing anywhere is tragic. That it has happened on a Surrey train passing through Mole Valley is both tragic and shocking. We like to think that these things do not happen in other places as Mole Valley is a low crime area.

Sir Paul Beresford MP

“My sympathies go to any family or friends of the victim but also to other passengers on the train who may have witnessed or been close to this fight. My wife was to be on that train but had hurried to get the train before which makes this close to home for me.

“I wish all power to the British Transport Police and Surrey Police in their hunt through to conviction of the individual responsible for the stabbing.”

Late this evening, train services are reported to, once again, be running normally.