The family of a Wallington grandfather murdered two years ago have made a fresh appeal for those responsible to come forward, as detectives renew a £20,000 reward for information.

Carl O'Brien, 55, was attacked in the early hours of December 3 2016 in a communal stairwell of flats at Vanguard Way, Roundshaw Road outside his home.

Family gathered outside Sutton station this morning (December 4) to speak to members of the public, handing out leaflets and a personal letter written by daughter Laura O'Brien. 

Your Local Guardian:

Carl O'Brien holding his granddaughter 

Ms O'Brien said: "We've had a really response from the local community, who've made the time to listen to us. 

"We know the information is out there is the community, we just hope someone will come forward. 

"It still hard to cope. We have good days and we have bad days. 

"People say my Dad was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But that's not really the case. He was exactly where he should have been, at home with his family.

"We just want justice for him."

It is believed that between 4-7 in the morning Mr O'Brien answered the communal door to strangers after they buzzed all the bells to the block to gain entry.

He was violently attacked after a brief exchange of words as he returned to his flat.

Later that day Carl was taken to a south London hospital as a result of having lost consciousness. It became apparent that Carl had sustained a serious head injury as a result of the earlier assault.

Sadly, Carl, a cab driver and avid Chelsea FC fan, died from his injuries on December 23. A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as a blunt trauma injury to the head.

The investigation into Carl's death is still open and being led by detectives from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command. The case remains unsolved, with one person having been tried and found not guilty of murder in October 2017.

DI Jo Sidaway of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, leading the investigation, said: "The investigation into the circumstances around Carl's death continues, and we will do everything we can to deliver justice for his family and loved ones. He was a beloved family man with a young granddaughter he doted on, and he is sorely missed.

"On the night of the assault, we know that there had been a party on the Roundshaw estate where Carl lived earlier that evening. Although Carl did not attend that party, anyone who went to that party is a potential witness.

"While we have taken statements from a number of people as part of this enquiry, we believe that there are people who have not yet come forward and told police what they know. I would urge them to do so now, and I hope the substantial reward being offered will further encourage those people to do the right thing and call police.

"I am sure that there are people who know who did this to Carl, and that someone - most likely in the Sutton or wider South London and Surrey areas - has the information to help us solve this case.

Investigators are appealing for any new information that may lead them to the person who carried out the attack and inflicted the fatal injuries, with a £20,000 serious crime reward offered for information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for Carl's death.

Anyone with information about Carl's death can contact the Incident Room on 020 8721 4005, or via the police non-emergency number 101. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

The family will be handing out leaflets at other locations this week.