Man found dead from stab wounds in London

A TOOTING (in South London, UK) man has been discovered dead outside a pub.

Isaac Kofi Benson, 25, of Garratt Terrace, was found slumped outside the Rounded Oak in Mitcham Road by cops at 1.30am on Saturday.

A post-mortem report carried out on Sunday showed he had died of a stab wound to the heart.

Mr Benson, whose family came from Ghana and whose father is a minister at a London church, was minding the family house while his parents and younger brother were in Africa.

It is not yet clear whether a fight began inside the crowded pub but police have appealed for anyone who was there to come forward.

One man who drinks regularly at the Rounded Oak and was there at the time of the murder said he did not notice anything unusual.

"Everyone was happily drinking and there was nothing strange about the evening," he said.

"The first I knew about it was when I saw the police lights outside. I have never heard of the poor chap who has died. I told the police what I'd seen on the night.

"I think we are all hoping those who do know something come forward as soon as possible to help the police.

"People are bound to think this is a rough pub now, but in my experience that is not the case."

Two men have been arrested and bailed to reappear at a South London police station early in the new year.

One, a 25-year-old, was arrested at the scene and another, aged 19, was arrested nearby shortly afterwards.

Detective Chief Inspector Jill Bailey, said: "I am hoping that anyone who was inside the pub on the evening of Friday or the early hours of Saturday will contact the incident room because they may have seen something very significant but not realised how important that information might be.

"I am also interested in speaking with anyone who knew Mr Benson."

Information to police on 020 7350 1122 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.