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Stabbed girl: 'Yard knew of death threat'
Benedict Moore-Bridger and Rashid Razaq03.06.08
The family of murdered schoolgirl Arsema Dawit told police a stalker attacked her and made death threats less than a month before her killing, it was claimed today.
The man is now in custody after the 15-year-old was stabbed up to 10 times and left bleeding to death in a lift yards from her Lambeth home.
Her family claim the police told them they could do nothing about the stalker who wanted the choirgirl to marry him. After the killing, a man in his thirties was arrested on Hungerford footbridge as he was about to throw himself into the Thames.
Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the Dawits had made an allegation of assault in April, whichwas still being investigated.
The stabbing happened days after the Evening Standard launched a campaign against knife crime.
Miss Dawit is believed to have met the stalker at a church group. He is thought to have become obsessed with her after she rejected his advances. A family friend, Simon Tesfaghiorgish, speaking today outside the Dawits' home in Matheson Lang Gardens near Waterloo Station, said: "The man had been harrassing her.
"Arsema's mother reported him to police a number of times and they said they couldn't do anything. I'm not sure exactly when, but she has definitely reported him in the last month.
"He beat her and threatened to kill her. The police said they couldn't take any action. This man wanted her to be his wife or whatever. He wanted a relationship."
The body of Miss Dawit, who celebrated her birthday three days ago, was found in a pool of blood in the lift of the flats, where she lived on the fourth floor with her parents, brother and sister.
A blade was sticking out of her side. The attack was so violent that part of the handle had snapped off.
Another family friend, Wayne Fort, said: "There was a guy who seemed to be obsessed with Arsema. I once stumbled upon an argument between her sister and this guy. They were arguing in the foyer of the building and she was shouting 'stay away from my sister, don't touch her'.
"He, on the other hand, was very calm. You could see right through him."
The father-of-one who lives in the same building, revealed that his nine-year-old daughter and his partner had discovered the body.
"Yesterday afternoon, after returning from school, my daughter was banging on the front door of our flat screaming and crying 'Daddy, daddy, come quickly. There's a girl in the lift and she's lying in blood. I ran out to the lift and saw the poor girl just slumped there. My partner and my daughter are absolutely distraught."
He added: "Arsema was a lovely and normal girl. I had shared my birthday with her on Saturday and I believe her family had some kind of celebration."
Another neighbour said she had heard an argument between a man and a woman shortly before Arsema's body was discovered.
Cosima Paniza said: "I heard a man and a girl arguing yesterday just as I was putting my rubbish out. I was on the floor above but I could hear raised voices through the rubbish chute." Miss Dawit's stabbing brought the number of teenagers killed in violence London this year to 16. She was the first female victim.
Sources close to the investigation today said the girl's attacker got into the flats through broken security doors.
One source said: "She came back on her own and he was waiting for her. She did not let him into the block. The security doors have been broken for almost two years. He did not have to break in, he could just walk through. Anyone can get in. Her mother was waiting for her to get home and was making toast. It is terrible."
Improved security for the flats was being tested today and was due to become operational tomorrow. No one from Lambeth council, which is believed to be responsible for the new security, was able to comment.
Police arrested a man in connection with the murder on Hungerford bridge. The man, about 5ft 8ins tall and of African appearance, was clinging to its side and talking into a mobile phone.
A witness said: "He was clearly agitated and acting as though he was plucking up the courage to jump into the Thames.
"Two plain-clothed officers walked from the south side of the bridge towards him, if you looked closely you could see they had stab vests on. As they approached him they drew batons and wrestled him to the floor. Then they were joined by several uniformed officers. It was over in seconds."
A priest at the Eritrean Orthodox Christian Community Church in Walworth, where Miss Dawit worshipped, described her as sociable and popular. The teenager used to make the long journey from her home in Walworth to practice there over the weekend.
Father Yohannes Sibhatu said: "She was one of the choir group in the church for more than two years, although as far as I know she had left the choir recently. I knew she worshipped here and was very sociable.
"When she was in the choir she spent most of her time here on Saturdays and Sundays for practice. When I heard the news I was very sad and upset by what has happened.
"It's heartbreaking for the family and my thoughts and prayers are with them."
Cathy Loxton, the principal at Miss Dawit's school, the Harris Academy in Bermondsey. said: "We are all shocked by the loss of one of our students and the tragic ending of a life that showed so much promise.
"Arsema was a popular, friendly and well-behaved girl who had much to contribute to our school community.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Arsema's family and friends."
Miss Dawit's schoolmates were told of the teenager's murder during special assemblies today.
Last year 27 teenagers were killed in London in a wave of gang and youth violence but that record figure is set to be surpassed.
The Government responded last week with an advertising campaign showing images of a man with two knives in his chest.
In the past two weeks Harry Potter actor Robert Knox, 18, was stabbed to death outside a bar in Sidcup and 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen was killed when his throat was slashed with a shard of glass in a bakery in Lee.
After the Jimmy Mizen killing Scotland Yard launched a crackdown on knives using tough stop and search powers and airport-style metal detectors to find weapons.
Reader views (6)
This terrible story is so similar to something that happened here in France, to someone close to our family. She was also 15 years old and was stalked by an older man. He threatened to kill her, and the police just brought him in to "talk to him". Shortly afterwards, he raped her, then abducted her and finally shot her at point-blank, while the police were trying to calm him down, and then killed himself. What a terrible way both of these girls ended their lives. I hope the police who didn't do enough to protect them can't sleep at night.
- Rosalind, Paris
I was saddened and sickened to read about Arsema's murder. Much more should be done to protect young girls from stalkers, and the police let this innocent young girl, and her family, down badly, by not following up their complaints.
Tragically, nothing can bring Arsema back, but I do hope that stalking, especially of under-aged girls, is taken more seriously in future.
My heart goes out to Arsema's bereaved family, and others who were affected directly by her murder.
- Margarita, UK
I m really shocked because it makes me scared to hear that a student from my school had died and the saddest thing about it is she was stabbed in her own block on the same floor were she lived and a 9 yr old and her mum found the body. In my assembly I felt like crying but I couldn't cause she would expect us to be strong and mature about it. As soon as I heard that I felt like crying and vomiting, but its like imagining that was someone you knew (which loads of people did now her) it's very heart-breaking and hard to get over. I m giving out prayers to all her family and friends who knew, lived and loved this girl. To the parents: I m very sorry that your child has died and ill never forget her (even though i didn't now her) but still I m sorry to the parents of this student I hope you live in peace and no more crime.
- Shelly, england
I was sorry to hear of Arsema murder, but not surprised as the police do not take threats to kill seriously enough.
Last February a neighbour who has continuously threatened my elderly parents and caused criminal damage to the house, jumped out at me in the dark and threatened to kill me.
I contacted the Met Police straight away but the outcome was not satisfactory and the incident deemed ‘only an altercation’ and that I should not worry as ‘they (the police) get threatened all the time’. The police have not taken a crime report from me; nor a statement or bothered with any kind of investigation; despite me pointing out more than once that there was a history of previous harassment and stalking. There may have even been a possible witness to what happened to me.
The incident has left me nervous and fearful when out alone and I now have to vary my time and route from the house. My sleep is also disturbed. I have had to have counselling.
Threatening to kill someone is a very serious crime and the attitude of the police to its victims needs to change before another person like Arsema is either seriously hurt or loses their life.
- Mark Wilson, Romford, United Kingdom
Maybe the MET should have got an ASBO on the man & the first time he breached it he could be arrested & dealt with. eg custody.
- Ken, Essex
How sad, because especially this seems to be a failure of our police system not being able to protect the vulnerable to which they have already been alerted.
We need a full enquiry into those suggested police failures (not yet established) so that lessons can be learned, but too late for Arsema.
Much love to her family.
Graham & Pippa
- Graham, Dorking
