Bus passenger Appeal in Laila Rezk Case

Two men sought from the Number 85 bus she travelled home on

Officers investigating the brutal murder of 51 year old Laila Rezk in her home in Kingston Vale on Wednesday 29 November are appealing for two men who got off the same bus as her that evening to come forward.

CCTV footage from the area shows three men alighting from the bus at the same time as Mrs Rezk. One has identified himself to police but we are anxious to trace two others.

They are described as:
1. A white man in his late 40s; tall and of slim build with dark and greying hair; he wore a long black coat, buttoned up and black shoes. He was carrying a magazine and had a laptop bag over his shoulder.
2. A white man in his 60s; medium height and large build with white hair and balding; he wore a black suit, black shoes and patterned tie. He was carrying a blue folder.

Det Supt Richard Heselden said it's possible the men were only visiting the area or have not seen anything of the media appeals for information.

"I would ask anyone who recognises the descriptions to contact us as soon as possible. They may have vital evidence."

Police are continuing to make enquiries in the area and examine information already gathered from house to house enquiries and appeals through the media. Forensic examination continues at the home where Mrs Rezk was found by her children just before 9pm on Wednesday 29 November.

Det Supt Heselden said:
"We have not yet found anything missing in the house. Whilst there is no physical evidence to say she has been seriously sexually assaulted, there is reason to believe that there may have been a sexual element to this attack.

"I can also confirm that we have not yet found a murder weapon and at this stage there is no evidence to suggest a weapon was used."

A post mortem at Kingston Mortuary on Friday 1 December showed the cause of death to be severe head injuries.

Officers still want to hear from anyone who saw Mrs Rezk as she made her way home from work. She caught a No 85 bus near Putney railway station at 19.21hrs and got off the bus at 19.42hrs at Kingston Vale near Robin Hood roundabout.

Laila Rezk, who was slim and had dark brown shulder length hair, was wearing a full-length dark brown leather coat, dark coloured boots and she was carrying a large beige handbag with handles, (not a shoulder bag) and a plastic carrier bag which we believe was purple and white.

December 8, 2006