Man killed and partner stabbed in 'gay murder'

Police said they were called to a flat in Page Heath Villas, Bromley, at 8pm yesterday and found the victim unconscious. He died at the scene.

Another man, aged 50, was taken to hospital where his condition is described as critical. He had also been stabbed.

A police source said at this stage they were treating the attack as a "stranger murder".

The 50-year-old victim was able to tell detectives that he heard his partner being attacked and when he went to investigate he was also set upon.

Scotland Yard issued an appeal for anyone who may have seen a white man in his forties in the area of the address last night to contact them.

A spokesman said that they were not ruling out the possibility that the attack was homophobic.

The victims are believed to have been stabbed repeatedly.

The men lived in a flat in a converted house in a tree-lined street.

The street was cordoned off today as police forensic science teams were examining the scene.