Pinner stabbing: Man charged with murder after London shopkeeper knifed to death

Ravi Katharkamar was knifed in the chest as he opened Marsh Food and Wine in Pinner, northwest London

Ravi Katharkamar, 54, died after he was stabbed in the chest as he opened Marsh Food and Wine in Pinner, northwest London, on 24 March 2019. (Metropolitan Police)

A 31-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a shopkeeper who was stabbed to death while opening a newsagents in London.

Ravi Katharkamar, 54, was knifed in the chest as he opened Marsh Food and Wine in Pinner, northwest London, at about 6am on Sunday 24 March.

Alexander Stephen Gunn, of no fixed address, was charged with Mr Katharkamar’s murder on Thursday. He was also charged with robbery.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Gunn will appear in custody at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Friday 5 April.

“He had previously appeared at the same court on Monday 1 April charged with burglary, theft from a motor vehicle, possession of an offensive weapon and driving whilst disqualified.”

Mr Katharkamar was found by a member of the public collapsed inside the shop suffering from stab injuries and police were called at about 6am.

Despite the efforts of emergency services he was pronounced dead at the scene 45 minutes later.

Forensic officers in Marsh Road, Pinner, north-west London, after the attack (PA)

Investigators said previously that his attacker fled with a shop till.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe of the Metropolitan Police’s homicide and major crime command described the murder as a “vicious and unwarranted attack on a completely innocent man”.

He called for information from anyone who might have noticed someone trying to use lots of loose change in the days after the killing.

Mr Stancombe was also trying to trace a black Vauxhall Astra parked on Cecil Park before the murder and driven away at speed immediately afterwards.

A 44-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder on 28 March was later released under investigation.