Bermondsey murder victim named as Vitaliy Janovics

Detectives investigating the murder of a man in Bermondsey in the early hours of Friday morning have issued a fresh appeal for witnesses and information as they name the victim.

Whilst a formal identification is yet to take place, detectives are satisfied that the victim is Vitaliy Janovics. Next of kin have been informed.

Police were called to Jamaica Road SE16 at about 1.10am on Friday to reports of a seriously injured man close to Bermondsey Underground Station.

Mr Janovics was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

A post-mortem examination at Greenwich Mortuary gave the cause of death as a single stab wound to the heart.

An incident room has been set up at Sutton under Detective Chief Inspector Amanda Hargreaves from the homicide & serious crime command.

At this early stage officers believe that Mr Janovics was fatally stabbed in and around the area of a bus stop on Jamaica Road near Bermondsey Underground station between in a 5 minute period between approximately 1.05am and 1.10am.

Detectives are keeping an open mind as regards any motive.

"Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr Janovics following this needless murder," says DCI Hargreaves.

"We are appealing for witnesses and any information that could assist our investigation and find who murdered Mr Janovics.

"Our early investigations lead us to believe that he was killed in very small timeframe between approximately 1.05am and 1.10am on Friday morning. Therefore we would like to hear from anyone who was in and around the area of Bermondsey tube station around that time.

"Specifically, we would like to hear from two groups of potential witnesses. The first is three white men, who are believed to have been sitting on steps behind and near to the bus stop where Mr Janovics died. The second is a group of approximately 11 people who got off the last tube train at Bermondsey station at around 1am.

"Also we would like to hear from any of Mr Janovics' friends and colleagues who could help us get a picture of what he may have been doing on Thursday night into Friday morning prior to his death."

Anyone who can assist police should call the incident room on 020 8721 4155 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.