Two daughters of a dad-of-four brutally stabbed to death in his West Norwood flat have made an emotional appeal for information to find their "loving" father's killer.

Grandfather Donald MacPherson, 60, and his friend and flatmate Luciano Schiano, 49, were found murdered in separate rooms of their bloodstained ground floor flat in Summersell House, Bentons Rise, last Tuesday evening.

Mr MacPherson, a chef who had seven grandchildren, was stabbed repeatedly in the face and neck.

Mr Schiano, a Big Issue seller who spent a lot of time around Brixton station, died from a number of knife wounds to his neck and torso.

Police believe their bodies lay undiscovered for a week before officers broke into the flat.

Mr MacPherson's family had become concerned when he did not return their calls or show up for work.

Mr Macpherson's daughters Manda MacPherson, 38, and Fiona Scott, 39, who live in Hertfordshire, made an emotional appeal for information outside Summersell House today.

Ms MacPherson said: "He was just a family guy. I have know idea why someone would want to do that to my dad."

She said Mr MacPherson was happiest "with a glass of whiskey in his hand surrounded by his grandchildren," and his murder came as "a terrible shock" to his family.

The 60-year-old originally of Clydebank, Scotland, had worked for more than 12 years as a chef at the exclusive Reform Club in Pall Mall.

Ms MacPherson added: "We have no idea why he would be targeted. My dad was an ordinary, straight-forward man who went to work, came home and visited my sister and I every so often.

"It shouldn't happen to anyone, but certainly not to my dad. I would ask anyone who knows anything to speak to police."

Police said they are keeping an open mind as to the motive for the two killings.

They have not ruled out a robbery, although there was no sign of forced entry to the flat and nothing of value is known to have been stolen.

It is believed the murders took place in the small hours of Tuesday, October 13, because of text messages sent by Mr MacPherson just after midnight, and the fact he did not show for work later that day.

Officers now want to piece together the last few hours of the two men's lives as they travelled home separately during the evening of Monday, October 12, for clues leading them to the killer.

They hope CCTV footage of Mr MacPherson leaving the Reform Club at 6pm and further CCTV footage of Mr Schiano boarding a 432 bus at 10.50pm from Brixton Water Lane then getting off at Elder Road, West Norwood at 10.50pm, could trigger people's memories about seeing them that night.

Detective Inspector Graeme Glynn, from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "There are two families who have been completely devastated by the loss of their loved ones.

"We would really urge anyone in the community who saw them to come forward."

Police said they need to find out if someone was with Lucian before or after he got off the bus. He had been to Tesco before boarding, was wearing a distinctive white zip-up Puma tracksuit top, and carrying two plastic bags.

He said text messages sent and received from Mr MacPherson's phone suggested the dad-of-four was still alive at about midnight, but they wanted to hear from anyone who had an idea of what he did that night.

The two men's neighbours said they did not hear any disturbances on the night of the murder and said they were two "pleasant men who kept themselves to themselves."

A 29-year-old from south london was arrested last Wednesday in connection with the murder investigation.

He was bailed to appear again at a south London police station tomorrow.

Anyone with information should call 020 8721 4805 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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