Detectives investigating the murders of father and daughter Noel and Marie Brown have released CCTV images of a man they wish to trace.
The bodies of Noel, 69, and his daughter Marie, 41, from Southwark, were found at his flat in New Butt Lane, Deptford, in the early hours of Monday, December 4.
A post-mortem examination showed they both died from strangulation and it has today emerged that parts of Mr Brown’s dismembered body are still missing.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, who is leading the murder investigation, revealed parts of both of Mr Brown’s arms and one of his legs were removed from the flat after the murder.
Police have searched Deptford Creek and the surrounding area but they are still yet to be located.
DCI Harding described the dismemberment as “incredibly unusual” and said he had not seen anything like it in his 27 years as a police officer.
Detectives believe Mr Brown was killed overnight from Thursday, November 30, into the early hours of Friday, December 1, and that mother-of-two Ms Brown was killed almost instantly after entering the flat to check on her dad around 12pm on Saturday, December 2.
CCTV footage has today been released of a man with a large, distinctive rucksack who police want to speak to in connection to the murder investigation.
The footage shows a man who appears to be aged in his 20s or 30s dressed in a hooded top, dark-coloured jacket and trousers or jogging bottoms, dark trainers and carrying a rucksack.
The suspect is seen walking along Deptford Broadway towards the junction with the A2209 (Deptford Church Street) and then along Reginald Road at about 5am on Saturday, December 2.
He appears to cross over the road on Reginald Road to avoid walking past a woman in a light-coloured jacket coming in the opposite direction.
The last image captured of Noel Brown in Paddy Power on Deptford High Street
“We are still looking through thousands of hours of CCTV to try to ID his facial features,” DCI Harding told the News.
“That rucksack is quite distinctive, as is the way he walks, and I really want to speak to that woman in the light-coloured jacket as well.
“There are at least four times when we believe that suspect with the rucksack is coming and going from the venue [flat] itself.”
DCI Harding said he was keeping an open mind about the motive and had not ruled anything out.
However, he said there was “nothing to suggest” the murder was connected to Mr Brown being a registered sex offender following a conviction in 1999 or anything to do with a gambling win.
The only item police have discovered is missing from the scene so far is Ms Brown’s bank card, however it has not been used.
Ms Brown’s family have also paid tribute to the Nunhead Primary School worker for the first time, saying they are “still in shock and disbelief”.
“Marie was the peacemaker and we cannot understand why this would happen to her,” they said.
“Marie was everything and we miss her so much, we are hurting and this is painful and we don’t want this to happen to someone else.
“Marie was a calm, peaceful person – slow to anger and quick to forgive, she never got caught up in any sort of fight and avoided feuds with anyone because she didn’t want to be a part of anyone’s upset.
“Her life was her kids and how much she loved them and would do anything for them.”
The woman in the light-coloured jacket in the CCTV footage and the driver or passenger of a van seen driving along Reginald Road around the same time and any other witnesses are urged to get in touch with police on 020 8721 4205 or 101.
You can also tweet police @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
