Sami Sidhom: Father’s plea for justice as £20k reward offered five years on from fatal stabbing of football fan

Detectives urge anonymous tipster to come forward to solve killing of eighteen-year-old West Ham supporter after match
A £20,000 reward has been offered by police investigating the murder of Sami Sidhom
PA Archive
Josh Salisbury13 October 2023
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A father has pleaded for his son’s killers to be finally caught five years on as police offered £20,000 for information leading to them being caught.

Detectives have pursued a number of lines of enquiry since 2018, resulting in 10 arrests, but so far nobody has been charged.

An anonymous person has provided tip-offs to police, but they have never spoken directly to officers.

In an emotional appeal for information, Sami’s father, Samer, said: “My son’s life was taken away for no reason whatsoever. It’s so cruel, he did nothing wrong. If you’re out there, and you know who these people are, I plead with you to do the right thing.

“Sammy didn’t deserve this and we need to have justice. If these killers continue walking free, they can just do it to someone else.”

An inquest last year heard the teenager was set upon “criminally, wickedly and maliciously” by up to four men.

Detectives said they believed members of the community in Newham knew who was responsible for Sami’s death.

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Floral tributes and messages left outside the family home of Sami Sidhom after his killing
NIGEL HOWARD ©

Met Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers said: “I understand how daunting it can be to come forward after such a terrible crime, but, hopefully now some time has passed, someone will be brave enough to come forward and tell us what they know.

“Sami’s family have been devastated by the senseless loss of their son. They have had only questions, but no justice.

“I urge anyone who has information about Sami’s murder, but in particular the person who has reached out anonymously before to provide key information, to contact us.”

In a previous Crimewatch appeal, police suggested that the history and law student may have been killed in a case of mistaken identity.

After leaving the game in Stratford, Sami took a bus to Romford Road and then began to walk home. CCTV shows that as he began to turn into Chestnut Avenue, yards from his home, a silver car approached the end of the road.

The footage then showed three men chasing Sami back into Chestnut Avenue followed by the same silver car.

Following the attack, the silver car and another car were seen to drive off.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is being urged to call detectives on 020 8345 3715. Information can be given anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

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