A man stabbed to death in a South Norwood park yesterday has been named as 21-year-old David Darko.

He was found unresponsive near a children's playground in South Norwood Recreation Ground, near to Tennison Road, on Saturday evening.

Mr Darko was pronounced dead at the park at 8.45pm, sparking a murder probe.

A post-mortem examination yesterday established the cause of his death as a stab wound. 

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No arrests have been made and police today renewed an appeal for information as detectives hunt Mr Darko's killer.

Officers with sniffer dogs combed the park for evidence yesterday, when a police forensics tent could be seen near to a children's playground.


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The park remained cordoned off by police today.

Flowers have been left at the cordon and tributes to Mr Darko, who lived in South Norwood, have been posted on social media.

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Friends and family expressed shock and grief at the young man's death.

In an Instagram post, Mr Darko's younger brother said: "It was literally yesterday I was talking to u before I went cinema. How is my yute dying 2 weeks after his birthday. Ffs. I LOVE YOU DAVID DARKO. REST UP IN HEAVEN IN PEACE."

One Twitter user wrote: "David Darko rest in peace, prayers going out to you and your family for reals bro."

Another said: "Cannot believe it. RIP David Darko."

Police carried out door-to-door calls over the weekend as they look for witnesses to Mr Darko's killing.

Yvonne Fowler, 30, who lives near to the park, said she was "shocked" to learn of the murder.

She told the Croydon Guardian: "I've only lived here for a year. I've heard reports that these things can happen around here, but I've always felt safe walking through [the park]."

Teresa Minondo, 36, said: "You only see this kind of thing on the TV; now it’s real.

"If it is a dangerous place I will try to avoid it. I didn’t think [the park] was before, but now… I will have to start thinking about it.

"Sometimes there are people having a joint there, but nothing like this."

 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4054 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.