The father of a teenager who was tragically murdered in Newham five years ago has made a heartfelt appeal for anyone who has information about the fatal attack to come forward and contact the police. Sami Sidhom, who was only 18 years old at the time, was fatally stabbed on the evening of April 16, 2018, as he walked along Chestnut Avenue in Newham. He was on his way home after watching a football match between West Ham United and Stoke City at the London Stadium in Stratford.
In an effort to encourage potential witnesses to come forward, the police are offering a reward of up to £20,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Sami’s murder. Despite ten arrests made during the course of the investigation, no one has been charged so far. The police have received several tips from an anonymous individual, but they have never directly communicated with the officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, who is leading the investigation, believes that members of the Newham community possess crucial information about the murder. He acknowledges the difficulty of coming forward with information regarding such a heinous crime but hopes that, with the passage of time, someone will find the courage to share what they know.
Sami’s family has been devastated by the senseless loss of their son and has been left with unanswered questions and no justice. Sami’s father, Samer Sidhom, emotionally pleaded for anyone with knowledge of the perpetrators to do the right thing. He emphasised that his son did not deserve to die in such a cruel manner and urged individuals to come forward so that justice can be served. The family hopes that by bringing Sami’s killers to justice, they can prevent further tragedies from occurring.
According to CCTV footage, after leaving the football match, Sami took a bus to Romford Road and continued his journey on foot. He walked along Sebert Road, turned left into Cranmer Road, and then left again into Capel Road before crossing over into Chestnut Avenue. At the same time, the CCTV captured a silver car approaching the end of Chestnut Avenue, where Sami was crossing. Three men can be seen chasing Sami back into Chestnut Avenue, followed by the same silver car. Subsequently, both the silver car and another vehicle are seen driving away from the scene.
Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to contact the investigating detectives at 020 8345 3715. They assure potential informants that their information will be handled by experienced officers who understand the difficulty in making such a call. Alternatively, individuals can provide information anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.
