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Mother-of-two stabbed to death on way to work
Last updated at 20:37pm on 05.09.06
Tragedy: Carmelita Tulloch was stabbed to death.
A mother-of-two was knifed to death in broad daylight yesterday as she walked to work.
In another appalling example of Britain's rampant knife culture, Carmelita Tulloch, 51, was slashed across the throat and stabbed several times.
As the hard working receptionist slumped to the floor, her crazed killer stood over her, continuing to rain down up to seven savage blows.
Police revealed that Mrs Tulloch's handbag was not taken. But one theory being investigated by detectives is that her killer - thought to be a local drug addict - recognised Mrs Tulloch and panicked as he tried to rob her.
She died just after 9am yesterday on a busy street in Kennington, South London, just a few minutes drive from central London.
Last night, as police hunted for a man seen wearing a distinctive ten inch tall grey woolly hat, an eye-witness gave a dramatic account of how he saw Mrs Tulloch bleed to death.
Greengrocer Steve Deane, 53, who rushed to Mrs Tulloch's aid, said: 'I had just gone outside to see if the milkman had been when all hell broke loose.
'There was blood everywhere. It was awful. She was still alive and she was unconscious. I have never seen so much blood. She had a white top on. It was nearly all red. She was lying face down on the pavement. Whoever did it must have severed an artery.
'There was a young woman with two children in the road screaming. You could see that she was going to die, there was nothing you could do.
When the first police officer who arrived, her first words were 'My God.'
'What's frightening is that it's such a busy area. There are lots of people around at 9am. There's normally a queue outside the Post Office at that time of day. I know her. She was just going about her everyday business. I will never forget this. It's so sad.'
The suspect is described as a black man in his early 30s He is six feet tall and medium/well built. He was wearing a loosely fitting ten inch tall grey winter woollen hat, beige fleece jacket and light blue jeans with black lace up boots. Officers said his clothing would have been heavily blood stained.
Detective Superintendent Julian Worker, of the Metropolitan Police, said: 'This is a horrific murder. This was a lady who was well known in the local community and she lived a five minute walk away.
'The lady was walking to work, this would have been the normal route for her. I've heard from a witness that at some point she was engaged by a black man, probably about 30, quite well built.
What then happened was there seems to have been some struggle. They've then fallen into the road and she's fallen on her back - at which point this man has been seen over the top of her thrusting at her or punching at her.
'I believe this man was stabbing at her in quite a frenzied manner. I believe he's likely to have been covered in blood. One of the concerns will be why has this happened at this time of day.'
Mr Worker appealed for more witnesses and suggested somebody already knew the identity of the killer.
Jamaican-born Mrs Tulloch, who lived in a nearby block of flats with her husband Prince Tulloch, had two grown-up daughters - one of who works at the Old Bailey.
Neighbour Ann Fudek, 72, said: 'Carmelita was a really nice neighbour - she would do anything for you. This is terrible. It's so sad. It's terrible. About five weeks ago, I had an accident trying to reach something and she came in and looked after me. She was lovely, she would do anything for you. I'm really going to miss her.'
Residents said that the streets near the murder scene had been plagued by crack addicts, muggers and drug dealers.
Mrs Tulloch was killed just a few hundred yards from where 15-year-old Alex Mulamba was knifed to death in June.
The youngster was stabbed through the heart after he and his two friends - celebrating the end of their GCSE exams - became involved in a fight with a gang of up to ten youths.
Last week shopkeeper Siraperakash Supramaniam, 33, bled to death in his wife's arms after he was stabbed while chasing a man and a woman out of his convenience store in Wembley, North West London.
Although Kennington suffers from high levels of crime, it is home to numerous politicians who appreciate its easy access to Westminster, Residents include former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
Despite repeated pledges from ministers, knife attacks have continued to rise. Safety campaigners are demanding far tougher sentences than the current maximum of two years for carrying a knife.
Latest figures show that almost a third of the 858 violent deaths last year involved a sharp instrument, as the knife became the weapon of choice for thugs.
Reader views (12)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
This is very sad news. My sympathy goes out to Carmelita's family friends and colleagues; I am only too well aware how shocking and traumatic this is for them.
Regarding John from Orpington's comments, it is unclear how the threat of capital punishment would have deterred the psychotic who did this. In fact murders of this sort have always happened, in Vauxhall and elsewhere and our city is no more dangerous than it has ever been. Using a tragedy like this to make propaganda for the state killing people seems a little cheap.
- Chris, London UK
I was fortunate enough to have worked with Carmie and knew her to be a lovely lady with a wonderful zest for life and strong ethics. I have no doubt that she will leave a vacuum in many peoples' lives especially those who were immediately close to her.
My sincere thoughts and sympathy go out to all her friends and family. Words do little to express the ramifications of this sad and horrific occurence.
In response to a few comments on this subject, I worked in Vauxhall for three years and never saw a beat copper, despite some form of crime being apparant on a daily basis, amazing considering that where she worked and lived was less than a mile from MI6 Headquarters. Reassuring to know that as usual our wonderful force is more concerned with nabbing 'easy' targets and blatantly ignoring what was under their supercilious noses.
- Jon, Warwickshire
I didn't know the woman but know of people who did, they remember her being a friendly individual who did not deserve for her life to be taken in such a vicious and unprovoked attack.
I hope the police do their very best to catch her killer and I would like to send out my condolences and prayers to her family .
- Charlie, England London
In reply to John. You're naive views are a sad reflection of our race obsessed white middle-class media, when you seek to differentiate murders by race and their news-worthyness. The Peter Woodham murder has rightly received high profile coverage because his family alledged the Police failed to investigate a known gang that recently stabbed him in the throat.
- Nw5chav, London
I am one of many of Carmelita's colleagues. We are all going to miss her so much. It will never be the same here without her. Best wishes and love to her family. I dedicate my prayers to you. xXx
- Tania, Vauxhall
It is not unusual to see drug dealing at any time of the day at the entrances to Kennington park. St Agnes Place is also quite active.
We need more police presence in and around the park. I walked through this morning and had to step over broken beer bottles. This is unacceptable.
Research shows that excessive use of marijuarna can lead to psychotic episodes. I wonder if this is yet another.
- Sandra Smith, UK
I think what happened yesterday is an absolute shame and a horrific crime that should and could have been avoided. I live in the area and have lived here most of my life. It has been so obvious and clear that something like this was waiting to happen. The area has some what become a playgroud for these drug dealers, drug addicts, muggers and just over all scum bags. It is not something that has been un-noticed but just ignored. There is very little support or help from local authorities for the community around here. The people committing the crimes are not from this area and are un-wanted around here. It is not a rare picture to see open dealings or drug abuse in broad daylight and I think this is unacceptable.
I send my deepest wishes out to Carmelita Tulloch's family and hope that they catch and punish the animal that has carried out this crime.
- Residient and Worried Member Of The Community, Kennington
This happened two streets away from where I work. The crime levels are increasing and nothing is being done. This poor woman was attacked for no reason at all. My colleague contacted the local MP weeks ago and initially she was not concerned as we are not constituents, only working here. There are loads of companies in this area, two women from our company have been attacked in the last year alone. It could have happened to any of us.
- Claire, Vauxhall
This murder is not getting as much media coverage as the young father who was shot in East London. But if man who had stabbed Carmelita Tulloch had been white instead of black this would receive a great deal of coverage like the Anthony Walker murder. If Carmelita Tulloch had been white it would have received more coverage as well. Is this due to bias or racism in the media? This is a horrific murder and the coverage should not be influenced by the suspect or victim's race. It sounds like a random attack so the victim could have been white, black or asian - yet because in this case the victim is black and the suspect black this seems to lessen the media coverage.
- John, London, UK
Englands crime is spiralling out of control. Women are bing stabbed at 9am in the morning, during the week, this is utter madness!
- Mark W, London, UK
What a terrible indictment of Britain today.
And where are the police?
- James Conway, london
Enough is enough. This is the legacy left by Sidney Silverman MP, long deceased, and his misguided campaign to abolish capital punishment.
- John, orpington, UK
