Paying tribute Sanchini Thompson’s family said he ‘brightened every room he entered’
Police have named the man charged with murdering Sanchini Thompson in a Catford stabbing attack. Mr Thompson, 27 who had a four-year-old daughter, was fatally stabbed in Rushey Green on October 15 and died later in hospital.
Earl Junior Strachan is due to appear in court today (Friday, October 24) charged with murder. The 33-year-old was arrested 400 miles away from South London in Scotland following what the Met Police have described as a ‘proactive operation’.
Strachan, of no fixed address, was arrested in Scotland on Tuesday and transferred to custody in London. He was charged with murder and possession of a knife on Thursday, October 23 and is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Sanchini’s family have been made aware of this update, and continue to receive support. The investigation remains on-going.”
A post-mortem examination confirmed Mr Thompson’s cause of death to be a stab wound to the chest. In a written statement his family said: “In loving memory of a son, a father, and a cherished friend, our hearts are heavy as we remember a man whose presence brightened every room he entered.
“At just 27, he was already a pillar of kindness, a devoted father to his beloved four-year-old daughter, and the heartbeat of his family. He gave freely of himself sharing his time, his laughter, to bring joy to others, always prioritising the happiness and well-being of those around him.
“His generosity knew no bounds, and his compassion touched friends, neighbours, and strangers alike. Words cannot fully capture the depth of our gratitude for him and the impact of his kindness on our lives. He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will remain with us in the love he shared and the memories we will carry forward.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has offered his “thoughts and prayers” to the Catford community after a horror week of four stabbings in total. The Met Police do not believe the knife attack incidents are linked at this stage.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor’s thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Sanchini Thompson and the wider community impacted by knife crime. Police have stepped up reassurance patrols in the area and have now arrested a man on suspicion of murder.
“Knife crime has no place in our streets or communities. The Mayor is fully committed to doing all he can to keep Londoners safe, including providing record funding for the Met police, increasing the number of neighbourhood police officers in hotspot areas and delivering prevention and intervention action through his Violence Reduction Unit to tackle the causes of crime.”
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