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Knightsbridge store boss killed in street robbery
Danny Brierley, Evening Standard4 Aug 2008
The manager of a Sloane Street fashion store has been stabbed to death by a street robber who rif led his pockets as he lay on the ground.
Andrew Pratt, 43, who worked at Emilio Pucci, was knifed in the heart and staggered to his front door in Camberwell before collapsing.
A neighbour claimed the robber had targeted Mr Pratt's Gucci bag but this was later found near the scene.
Mr Pratt was walking home when he was attacked at 10.45pm on Saturday in Northlands Street.
Paramedics treated him at the scene before taking him to King's College Hospital but doctors were unable to save him.
Today staff at the Sloane Street store arrived for work unaware of the tragedy. They were met by a plainclothes officer and the company's human resources director, Matthew Trent, who broke the news.
Mr Pratt was appointed store manager two months ago after working there as an assistant manager for several years.
Security guard Tony Tuck, 46, who works next door at Chanel but had worked for Mr Pratt, said: "I'm devastated. This is awful, he was such a fun-loving guy. I used to go for a beer with him and he seemed very happy with life, he had a long-term boyfriend and everything was going well."
One witness, who asked not to be named, said the robber calmly walked away after the attack.
He said: "I heard some shouting and went outside and saw the victim walking down the street. It was a robbery. There was blood on the pavement and he was walking up to his house but not in a good way. He was injured in his chest. There was a guy with his hood up who just walked away."
Another neighbour said the attack was over the Gucci bag. She said: "It is absolutely appalling. I have lived here 25 years and the area has changed hideously in terms of violence."
Detective Chief Inspector Will O'Reilly, leading the investigation, said: "This has all the hallmarks of an innocent man who was walking home when he was attacked. We are examining the possibility that this was a robbery.
"I appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and who saw anything suspicious to contact us."
Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4905 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Reader views (5)
I am Andrew Pratts best friend and had known him since I was seven years old. He was the best man I ever knew and he was my childrens Godfather. We saw him regularly and spent many sundays together for roast dinner. We cannot believe hes gone and are totally devastated by this senseless killing. The pain and grief we are still bearing will never go away but in time will ease but its not coming anytime soon.
What happened to the daily mail tribute site on Andrew? I left two messages along with a few other people and my message
didnt get shown along with many others, it wasnt on for long enough which is not very respectful for the family especially his beloved mum.
Id like to say thankyou for leaving your comments but even though this is the worst thing that could of happened to us I still dont agree with the death penalty as two wrongs dont make a right.
- Alexis, London England, 30/10/2008 23:07
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The laws have to be amended and made much tougher.whether teenage or adult, knife or gun crime should carry life imprisonment with no parole. This will drastically reduce crime in the uk.
- Sohrab, mumbai india, 30/10/2008 22:07
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Who's next?
How many hard-working people have to be stabbed on there way home from work before a thorough and targeted stop and search programme is introduced.
Certain areas need to be heavily policed - and i am not talking about CPO's.
I am sorry, but certain communities have brought this on themselves. My tolerance and understanding are out the window now. I just want get home safely.
Not having a father figure is no excuse for being a thieving, stabbing scutter.
- Who'S Next?, Islington, London, 30/10/2008 22:07
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When will this rubbishy government have the balls to ask the electorate's opinion on whether to bring back the death penalty for murder, or will we have to wait for an MP to die violently before they do anything about it?
- Lezl, London, 30/10/2008 22:07
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"When will this rubbishy government have the balls to ask the electorate's opinion on whether to bring back the death penalty for murder, or will we have to wait for an MP to die violently before they do anything about it?"
The last time an MP died violently (Ian Gow, 1990), it wasn't brought back - and quite rightly.
If we had the death penalty for murder, Barry George, Sally Clark, Trupti Patel and many others would have been hanged - and these people were all convicted well into the era of supposedly "foolproof" DNA technology.
- Michael, London, 30/10/2008 22:07
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