New appeal over students' murder

Police have released an e-fit of a man seen running away from murder scene

Detectives have renewed an appeal for witnesses to help solve a double murder in which two French students were set alight in south London.

Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, were killed at a flat in Sterling Gardens, New Cross, last Sunday.

Police have released an e-fit of a man seen running away from the scene the murder shortly after 10pm.

They have also urged anyone who has been offered two games consoles stolen from the flat to get in touch.

Man released

A 21-year-old man who was arrested over the deaths of the students in the early hours of Saturday, has been released with no further action.

Several people have described a man to police they saw running away from Sterling Gardens just after 2200 BST last Sunday, when they heard an explosion.

The suspect is described as white, between 30 and 40 years old and of slight or slim build, wearing a light coloured baseball cap, dark top, blue jeans and white trainers.

Making a new appeal at the scene, Det Ch Insp Mick Duthie said: "Do you know this man, who is he and where is he?

Det Chief Insp Mick Duthie appeals for witnesses

"It is possible someone who lives here, was visiting or passing through will remember something, however small, to help us solve this horrific crime."

Mr Bonomo last spoke to his fiancée at 1am on the Sunday morning, after that no-one saw or heard from the pair.

Police say the attack could have taken place at any time on the Sunday.

The badly burned bodies of Mr Bonomo, from Velaux, and Mr Ferez, from Prouzel, were found with more than 240 stab wounds.

Post-mortem examinations gave the cause of death in both cases as multiple stab wounds to the head, neck and torso.

Tests also revealed Mr Bonomo suffered 80 wounds after he died.

Police also believe the two men were also gagged before the flat was set alight.

Mr Ferez's parents said in a statement to those behind the killings: "Rest assured that we will not leave you in peace."

They also said his killer "will not be able to live in hiding forever."

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Both men were biochemistry students and were in the third year of a masters degree at Polytech Clermont-Ferrand in central France.

They were in London because they had been chosen to take part in a research project at Imperial College and were due to return home within weeks.

The flat in Sterling Gardens, New Cross, which Mr Bonomo was renting, had been burgled on 23 June and a laptop stolen.

Detectives believe their bank cards and two Sony PSP games consoles were taken on the day they were killed.

They are appealing to anyone who may have been offered the consoles to come forward.

Det Ch Insp Duthie said: "You might have been offered the items quite innocently, but that piece of information could help us solve these murders.

"These were two young, fit students. We don't understand how this could have happened. If you have heard someone speaking about it, contact us."

Mr Ferez lived in South Norwood but had travelled to his friend's flat for the evening.

Call the incident room on 020 8721 4155, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.