Hundreds pay last tribute to stab death doctor

MORE than 1,500 people attended the funeral of a doctor who was hacked to death and left undiscovered in her car for several hours.

Dr Victoria Anyetei's body was flown back to her hometown in Accra, Ghana, for the service on December 8.

Family, friends, government ministers and the president paid tribute to the 53-year-old Bexley paediatrician during the traditional service at the Fair Trade Site. It was one of the country's biggest funeral services for a civilian.

Her body was discovered by her distraught son, slumped on the steering wheel of her Toyota Avensis car in the driveway of her house in quiet cul-de-sac Tennyson Road, in Dartford, on August 14.

The mother-of-one lived with her son, Andrew Thompson, 19.

A post-mortem examination showed the staunch Christian had been repeatedly knifed.

Her brother, Dr Gilbert Anyetei, said: "So many people came to the memorial service and funeral to pay their respects and remember her. She was loved by so many and people wanted to pass on their sympathies because her death was such a tragedy in terrible circumstances.

"In Ghana, friends, family and colleagues remember her as a very nice person and still cannot believe she could be killed in such a tragic way."

At the massive memorial service, a condolence message from president John Agyekum Kufuor was beamed to tearful mourners.

Her body was later taken to the La Public Cemetery in Accra for burial. Traditional hymns were sung, prayers said and sermons given in tribute to "one of Ghana's greatest doctors".

Every member of the family attended, including those in the UK who made the heartbreaking trip to her homeland.

The UK-based Royal College of Paediatricians also passed on a message of condolence to mourners.

The following day another church service was held for family members, with a further gathering in the afternoon in her honour.

Her brother added: "I would like to thank everyone, including those in the UK and Dartford, who knew my sister. All our lives are better for having known her."

Sympathisers held a service for her at Methodist Central Hall, in Westminster, on Friday, November 30.

Dr Anyetei attended the Methodist Infant School in Nkawkaw before going on to Swedru Secondary School, where she gained seven distinctions in her O-level exams. She then studied for A-levels at Achimota School and gained a scholarship to study medicine in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Ghanaian doctor had been a locum consultant paediatrician at St Thomas's Hospital, London, for eight months when she was attacked as she left for work.

During her time in England she had worked for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Lewisham University Hospital, Queen Mary's in Sidcup and King's College Hospital.

David Quartey, 21, of Humber Road, Dartford, has been charged with her murder.

He pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court last Thursday and is due to stand trial on July 14 next year.