Murder Probe Launched 15 Years After Brutal Attack in Acton
A murder investigation has finally been launched nearly 15 years after Rajesh “Raj” Verma, a father of two, was viciously attacked in Acton.
On 31 August 2003, Raj, then 42, was set upon by a group of up to eight men near the entrance of Acton Park, opposite Birkbeck Grove, W3. The gang used garden shears found at the scene to inflict a stab wound to his head, causing severe brain damage.
Years of Suffering Follow Brutal Assault
Raj was treated and discharged from hospital, but the brain injury left him with serious lifelong health problems. He also developed epilepsy and suffered a major heart attack in 2015, which damaged his brain further.
He became unresponsive and unable to move or speak for the last 18 months of his life. Raj broke his hip during an epileptic episode in 2017 before his death on 27 May 2018.
New Investigation Ignites Hope for Justice
A post mortem in June 2018 established a direct link between the 2003 attack and Raj’s death. An inquest in November 2019 ruled the death unlawful killing.
Now, the Met’s Specialist Crime Command has escalated the case to a murder investigation. Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall urged witnesses to come forward.
“The attack on Raj involved vicious, ferocious violence. One attacker stabbed him in the head with garden shears. We believe he intervened in a dispute. The suspects are local to Acton, of East African appearance, and likely still connected to the area.”
“Someone out there knows something. We’re offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and prosecution. Raj’s family cared for him around the clock for 15 years while justice remained elusive.”
Family Pleads for Answers After Years of Heartache
Raj’s wife, Roma Verma, shared the toll the attack took on their family.
“Our children were 11 and 13 when this tore our lives apart. We cared for Raj at home as he once cared for all of us. Though he couldn’t move or speak, we believed he could feel us.
“The assault was random and cruel. Raj was a kind, generous man who protected family and strangers alike. Hundreds turned out at his funeral—from friends and family to homeless people and local business owners he helped.”
If you have any information, call detectives on 020 8785 8099 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.
