The family of a charity worker stabbed to death in a random attack while returning home from buying her mother a gift has described her as “beautiful and kind-hearted.”
Johanita Dogbey, 31, is said to have been on the phone to her grandmother who heard a “terrible scream” when she was attacked from behind during the attack near Brixton’s O2 Academy on Bank Holiday Monday.
Ms Dogbey’s family described her as a “smart and loving girl who always helped anyone”.
“We are devastated by the news of the passing of our daughter,” they said. “She hasn’t got one bad bone in her body. She wouldn’t hurt a fly. We can’t believe a senseless crime like this has happened as we can’t imagine who would do this to her.
“Our hearts are completely broken and will not understand why someone would take our beautiful girl away from us, she will forever be in our hearts as we will carry on living life as gracefully and beautifully as she did.”
Police believe Ms Dogbey was attacked from behind by a stranger at around 4.04pm on Monday in Stockwell Park Walk. She was found with stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.
A 33-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder remains in custody.
A neighbour of Ms Dogbey said the 31-year-old had gone out to buy a present for her mother and was on her way home before she was attacked yards from her door.
Ms Dogbey’s father Yao told MailOnline: “We have no words at this moment. My daughter was beautiful and kind hearted.”
Ms Dogbey’s younger brother Maurice told the site: “We are trying to understand what has happened and are completely broken. As far as we know there was no link between my sister and the attacker. We are waiting to meet with the police to get a full update.
“This whole thing has left us devastated. It’s too much for us.”
Ms Dogbey was the founder of the Odette Foundation, a charity which supported people with sickle cell disease in Ghana and Togo.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander for Lambeth, said: “I am in regular contact with officers leading the investigation into this brutal attack and my thoughts continue to be with the woman's family and friends as they come to terms with this awful news. We will do everything we can to support them at this unimaginably difficult time.
“I recognise that the community will be experiencing worry and considerable concern and we have extra officers out in the community to answer questions and provide a visible presence.
“My police neighbourhood policing teams have visited local community centres and businesses taking on board concerns and to ensure we are having the right conversations with local people at this time.
“I would also ask people to share anything that they feel might help the investigating detectives.”
Police on Wednesday were granted more time to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old can be held in custody for a further 36 hours after officers applied for a warrant of further detention at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
