Our reporter Anna Behrmann was at the scene of the horrific double-shooting where family and friends have gathered to mourn the passing of a son and his aunt.
Mother-of-nine Annie Besala Ekofo, 53, of Elmshurst Crescent, and her nephew, Bervil Kalikaka-Ekofo, 21, who was visiting for a few days, were murdered in their flat on the leafy estate early this morning.
Family say it was a tragic case of ‘mistaken identity.’
Relatives and friends were still arriving late into the morning, unstable on their feet as they left their cars and went to join mourners in the heat. Maymie Ekofo, Bevril’s mother, was lying on the grass, surrounded by a group of friends, at times with her eyes closed.
She cried out: “He was my son, he was my Bevril, my best friend.
“The trinity’s broken – one of us is missing. It’s gone, one of us is gone.”
Family and friends were describing Bevril as creative, clever and quiet, but friendly.
He was in his second year studying psychology at the University of West London.
Maymie told the Ham&High: “He’d go around, take pictures, of trees, birds, singing.
“He’s never been in trouble, he had only a few friends from uni.
He doesn’t have a bad past, just a decent guy, living...
“He was different, he was an angel down on earth.”
Maymie came to England from the Congo in 1990 and Bevril was born in England.
Bevril’s sister, Francine, was saying that the murder was a case of mistaken identity, as her brother was just staying with his aunt for a few days.
It is believed Annie was killed when opening the door, and Bevril was killed while sleeping.
Francine, described how her brother liked music, and was “really friendly, gets along with everyone. He’s never been in trouble with the police, he was such a good guy.”
A woman described as Annie’s sister, was lying in a different huddle of close friends.
She could barely speak and her eyes were swollen and red.
A family friend, who did not want to be named, described Annie as a “queen”.
“[She was] very cheerful, such a wonderful woman.
“She always cared for others, motherly – she was a queen.”
Neighbour Mwammie Bukulu recalled that Annie had only moved there three months ago.
“She was a very nice lady. She was friendly, very cheerful.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here