Neighbours rushed to help ‘lovely’ woman stabbed in ‘busy’ north London street
Tributes have been paid to a ‘lovely’ woman found dying from stab wounds close to her London home.
Flowers were left at the scene in Willesden in memory of the victim, 50, who has not been named by police.
Locals in Harlesden Road rushed to help her after she was left with fatal sknife injuries at 4pm on Saturday.
She lived close to the scene and was known to her attacker, detectives have said.
A local shopkeeper told Metro: ‘Everyone said she was a really lovely lady who wouldn’t hurt a fly. We are all very shocked and devastated.
‘The woman apparently tried to appeal for help from a neighbour near the scene and they helped.
‘Police have been interviewing them about it. ‘
A neighbour whose home overlooks the crime scene told Metro: ‘At first I thought it was a car accident with someone knocked down. We all rushed out to help.
‘To hear it was a stabbing at that time of day is horrifying. She was a good person it’s difficult to understand how this can have happened to her. She was a gentle person.’
Police officers were scrambled to the stabbing in Pound Lane at around 4pm on Saturday.
Members of the public battled to save her before paramedics took over.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. Najiib Raytaan, 25, of Harlesden Road appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court charged with murder on Monday. He was been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.
DCS Luke Williams, in charge of policing for Barnet, Brent and Harrow, said: ‘This is a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the victim’s family, friends and all those who have been affected.
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‘We know this incident was witnessed by several members of the public, many of whom have spoken to police and been offered wider support.
‘The victim and suspect were known to each other and we believe this was a targeted act of violence rather than a random attack.’
Police have trawled through CCTV footage from around the area while forensics officers scoured for evidence.
The busy road was closed for much of the weekend but has now been re-opened.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.
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