John Gibbons: What we know about the three decades old unsolved murder

The daughter of a man stabbed to death more than three decades ago has made an emotional appeal to help to trace his killer.

  • WHO IS JOHN GIBBONS?

John Gibbons, 49, was originally from British Guiana and lived in a flat in Putney, south west London. Police say he often socialised in pubs near his home in Horne Way and was a "popular and generous figure" known to lend money to friends and family.

John, who was divorced from his wife and also had a son, had previously worked as an engineer for London Transport. In March 1984 he retired due to ill-health and was looking forwarding to spending more time with his children.

John Gibbons Credit: Met Police

  • WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY JOHN WAS ATTACKED?

John Gibbons was discovered in his Putney flat on Sunday, 17 March 1985 by his daughter Dawn who was 16-years-old at the time. He had been stabbed through the heart and his throat had been slashed.

Picture of John and Dawn, aged three Credit: Ministry of Defence/Twitter

  • WHAT DID THE POLICE INVESTIGATION UNCOVER?

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a single stab wound through the heart.

A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with John's murder but the trial was discontinued. There have been no further arrests in the case.

Picture taken prior to 1960 in British Guiana where John was born and before he came to London Credit: Met Police

  • WHY ARE POLICE MAKING A NEW APPEAL FOR INFORMATION NOW?

Officers believe there is a chance someone who felt they could not speak out in the 1980s may feel this is the time to see justice for John and his family.

His daughter Dawn says the fact that her father's killer still walks the streets of London has been extremely difficult to deal with over the past 32 years.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 7230 7963; alternatively, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.