Detectives investigating the brutal murder of a teenager five years ago, who was chased through a park and stabbed to death by a group of males, have released new images as they continue to seek witnesses.
Michael Jonas was only 17 years old when he was brutally attacked by up to six males in Betts Park, Penge, on the evening of Thursday, 2 November 2017.
He was stabbed several times and then left to die alone in the park.
A male had been attacked, and emergency services were called shortly after 7.20pm.
Officers arrived on the scene to find Michael with multiple stab wounds.
Officers administered first aid, but despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The following day, a post-mortem examination at the Princess Royal University Hospital confirmed the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest and haemorrhage.
The Met’s Specialist Crime Command immediately launched a murder investigation.
The investigation into Michael’s death continues, and officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command have released a new image of someone they want to speak with.
CCTV footage shows a man wearing a backpack leaving the park near the time of the murder. Officers are eager to identify him and emphasise that he is being treated as a witness at this time.
“Michael was a much-loved young man with his whole life ahead of him before he was cruelly taken in such a violent way,” Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Penney said. His family and friends miss him every day, and we are determined to provide some closure for them by apprehending those responsible for his death.” Our investigation is ongoing, and we are eager to speak with any witnesses or anyone with information that could lead us to Michael’s killers. We are particularly interested in identifying the man seen jogging away from the park at the time of the murder in this CCTV image.
” We’d also like to speak with anyone else who is in the park at that time.” I am confident that many people would have been present at this time of evening. Were you present? Did you happen to see or hear anything? Any information, no matter how minor or insignificant you believe it is, could be a missing piece of the puzzle, and we would appreciate hearing from you. You can do this through 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers. Please know that any information you provide us will be kept strictly confidential. Michael’s murder occurred more than four years ago. His family is still devastated. If you know anything, please do the right thing and contact us.”
