This isn't funny. The Wimbledon Guardian, which presumably is also the Streatham Guardian, says that the police are no longer regarding it as suspicious. So why were there two police officers on the corner this evening, stopping and questioning people, although not me, perhaps because I don't fit a description, anyway I have an alibi, and I quickly put my ear to the ground, as one does in a neighbourhood.
The man killed is a Jamaican alcoholic homeless man who drinks his ten cans of Super. I'm supposed to know him, can't actually properly place him. Stabbed, I'm told. My source, who has had his ear to the ground all day has jumped to the same conclusion as me - the gangs that have been hanging around in an intimidatory manner for months outside the Knights Youth Centre. Place should have been shut down months ago, whoever runs is out of control. Jimmy's just told me he's seen deliveries going on there. And when deliveries happen you get desperate 'youths' who'll do anything for money. Include, it seems, stab a desperate alcoholic homeless man. At quarter to six in the evening. Almost broad bloody daylight. Time of day when people are moving around, coming home from work, bumper to bumper traffic on the South Circular, dropping into Tesco.
Live in an urban area long enough and you don't notice a lot of stuff. Police have been swarming the area recently, some clamp-down on car thefts (frankly, if that's their operational priority I'm appalled). Often you see police parked up outside places. Don't get involved, don't ask questions.
But what can i do, what can I say, someone got murdered outside my house yesterday, and it hasn't actually sunk in yet. I'm feeling quite calm right now, but I'm not sure that's going to last.
