Maniac Stabs Young Dad to Death in Front of Family
A brutal murder shocked Plaistow when Menelik Campbell, 22, barged into a family home and stabbed 20-year-old Elliot Francique to death in front of his own relatives.
Terrifying Moment: Killer Forces Way In
On Tuesday, 19 April 2022, at around 3:20pm, Elliot was at home with family when the doorbell rang. A masked man dressed all in black shouted, “Where’s Elliot?” and stormed inside uninvited.
The intruder pushed past them and headed upstairs. Moments later, a violent scuffle broke out. Campbell then fled the house, leaving Elliot bleeding seriously from multiple stab wounds, particularly around his neck.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene but sadly, Elliot was pronounced dead there and then.
Forensic Breakthrough from CCTV and Phone Data
Homicide detectives launched a painstaking probe. The killer tried to hide his identity with a balaclava but was caught on CCTV after fleeing. Hours of footage traced his route to a Stratford training course and showed him boarding a bus linked to Campbell’s phone.
Campbell was arrested at his Dalston home on 27 April. His phone contained chilling searches for “crime in Stratford London,” “lowest possible sentence for murder,” and various deadly knives including samurai swords and flick knives. Cell data placed the phone at the murder scene.
He said nothing after arrest but was charged with Elliot’s murder the next day. Mental health experts later found Campbell was psychotic, suffering paranoid schizophrenia and hearing voices commanding him to kill. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.
Family’s Heartbreaking Tribute & Detective’s Reaction
“Elliot was a much loved brother and son and was soon going to become an uncle. For this to happen in our family home made our suffering almost unbearable,” the family said. “The pain and devastation will last a lifetime.”
Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen said: “This was a horrendous ordeal. Elliot was murdered in front of his family in the home where they should’ve been safe. We may never know why Campbell targeted Elliot, who was no threat and had no disputes with him. Campbell was suffering a psychotic episode and fixated on Elliot for reasons we may never understand.
The lack of motive made the investigation hard, but officers’ relentless work uncovered the killer. My deepest sympathies go to Elliot’s loved ones.”
