Family tell of heartbreak after son’s killing 30 years on from his sister’s murder

Peter Petrou and Tracy Meade. The siblings were killed 28 years apart
Metropolitan Police/Crimewatch
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The family of a murder victim told of their heartbreak today as they revealed that his teenage sister died in the same area of London almost 30 years ago — in a killing which has never been solved.

Construction worker Peter Petrou, 37, died in hospital shortly after being stabbed in a fight outside a McDonald’s in Kilburn last Thursday evening.

In February 1992, his sister Tracy Meade, 14, was found stabbed and drowned in the Grand Union Canal near Kensal Rise — about a mile away.

Their sister Emma Meade paid tribute today as detectives continued to hunt for Peter’s suspected killer, who is described as being 6ft tall with dark skin, in his late teens to early twenties and of athletic build.

She said: “This is the second murder we as a family have had to suffer. We are deeply devastated and cannot begin to imagine how we are going to cope with this type of tragedy again, especially if the perpetrator is not caught.

“Peter was much loved by his large family and many friends. He was the life and soul of everything and the void he has left will be hard to fill.”

Tracy’s mother carried out her own investigations after her daughter went missing on the evening on January 20, 1992. She walked the streets approaching locals, friends, shopkeepers and anyone who might have seen her. Tracy’s bruised and partially-clothed body was found by an angler on February 1.

We cannot imagine how we will cope with this kind of tragedy again, especially if the perpetrator is not caught 

Emma Meade, sister

Her father Paul Petrou said at the time: “She was a sensible girl and extremely popular. She wouldn’t have walked off by herself... She had never run off before. It was totally out of character.”

A coroner recorded the death as an unlawful killing in December 1992.

Detective Inspector Darren Jones, leading the investigation into Mr Petrou’s murder, said: “This senseless killing has left Peter’s family facing unthinkable grief. They are going through hell and my team and I are conducting extensive enquiries… I am asking anyone who knows anything, or has heard anything, about this killing to try and think how they would feel in Peter’s family’s shoes.”

The crime scene in Kilburn

Meanwhile, man in his early thirties is fighting for life after a stabbing in Upper Green East in Mitcham at 5.30pm yesterday. Three males, in their teens to early twenties, are also in hospital with non life-threatening stab wounds following a fight in Wilton Road, Abbey Wood at 10pm last night.

Anyone with information about Mr Petrou’s death is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference Cad 8685/16Jul. To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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