Nelly Akomah death, Croydon: Two murder arrests at Stansted Airport after attack near Crystal Palace ground

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of 76-year-old Nelly Akomah in Croydon.

A 28-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested in the early hours of Friday (June 23) at Stansted Airport.

The Met Police says Nelly's family has been informed of the arrests. While formal identification awaits, detectives named Nelly yesterday as part of a public appeal for information.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, said: “First and foremost my thoughts are with Nelly’s family and friends. Nelly was active in her church and her loss will be keenly felt by many people.

"The arrests mark substantial progress in what is a fast-moving investigation. I don’t underestimate the level of concern in the local community following this shocking incident and there are various suggestions circulating about what may have happened. At this stage, we are investigating the possibility that there was a burglary at Nelly’s address. I must stress that our investigation is in its very early stages and we are working to establish what exactly happened."

The investigation was launched after police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 10.40am on Wednesday, to reports of a woman found dead at a house on Ladbrook Road.

A post-mortem examination began yesterday and police await the results.

Met Police appeal after Nelly Akomah death

DCI Blackburn added: “I want to reiterate my appeal to the wider public. We need to know what led to Nelly’s sad death. If you haven’t already spoken to officers and you have information, footage or anything that could help our investigation please do so without delay.

"Were you in the area of Ladbrook Road, Croydon during the evening of the June 20 between 10pm and midnight? Do you have any dash cam footage? Did you see anyone else in the area or any activity that you thought may be out of the ordinary? If you can help, we need to hear from you.”

Croydon policing

Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, responsible for policing in Croydon, said: “I want to reassure Nelly’s family and the community that the investigation team are working diligently to establish the facts. People in the local area will see an increased police presence over the coming days and I would encourage anyone to come forward and speak to them to share information or to raise any concerns they may have.

“I am conscious that there has been speculation on social media and possibly shared in the local community. I appreciate that such speculation is an inevitable part of a police investigation of this nature. While I am in no doubt that many people are acting in good faith, I want to ask people to think of Nelly’s family who may read what is posted online. Some of the details posted will no doubt add to what is already an incredibly distressing time for them. I would also remind people that detectives are still working to gather information about what exactly has happened.”

Contact the Met Police

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 2540/21Jun.

You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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