Fatal stabbing victim 'recently miscarried twins'

A woman who was stabbed to death outside a supermarket recently lost twins in a miscarriage, neighbours said today.

Dee Willis, 28, suffered a wound to her upper body during the attack at around 11pm yesterday in Bellenden Road, close to Peckham High Street in south-east London.

Detectives said they were looking for a female suspect, believed to have acted alone.

Ms Willis was taken to King's College Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

No-one was in at the flat in Nunhead Crescent, Peckham, where it is believed she lived with her boyfriend.

But Steve Phosman, a 54-year-old plumber, who lived below the victim, said Ms Willis had recently been pregnant but miscarried, resulting in the loss of twins.

He added: "She kept herself to herself. I only really saw her when she was walking her two dogs."

Another resident confirmed the recent bereavement.

She said: "She lost twins about a month ago. I think she was around seven months gone."

The death comes amid growing concern over knife crime in the capital.

Yesterday, hundreds of teenagers took to the streets for a protest following the death of 16-year-old Ben Kinsella over the weekend.

He became the 17th teenager to die a violent death in London since the beginning of the year.

Yesterday's stabbing took place outside a Lidl supermarket just off Peckham High Street.

Police cordoned the area off today.

The controller of a nearby taxi firm said a group of 10 to 20 young women were seen at the scene of the crime shortly before or at the time of the incident.

The man, who did not wish to be named, added that it was a well-known trouble spot.

He said: "It is happening around here almost every night. At around 7pm to 8pm people arrive and start drinking in the streets.

"They lose their brains and it turns violent."

A bar worker walked past the scene of the crime shortly after 11pm and said she saw police talking to a man and a woman who both appeared to be distressed.

The incident took place close to where schoolboy Damilola Taylor was killed eight years ago.

The 10-year-old bled to death in a stairwell after being stabbed with a broken bottle.