The victim’s family shared a heartfelt statement
A man’s decomposing body was found in a bathtub, leaving neighbours smelling a ‘nauseating’ stench. Marvin Dickson, 40, was found by the Metropolitan Police in Wood Green on Friday, September 20, 2024.
The home had been boarded up, padlocked, and in complete darkness. It is thought he’d been dead for about 10 days before cops kicked in the door.
A post-mortem examination found Marvin had suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to his head and face and multiple stab wounds. Cops watched hours of CCTV and saw Marvin with Dante Forrest, 38, also of Moselle Avenue, 10 days before he was found.
The last shot of Marvin was him collecting a pizza. DNA evidence linked Forrest to the murder.
Forensic evidence later revealed bloodstains were present on a shirt found inside the address and on the pizza box, linking Forrest to the murder. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and charged on Wednesday, September 25. Forrest was sentenced to 22 years behind bars for murder after a trial at the Old Bailey.
In a statement, Marvin’s family said: “On behalf of our family, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this case. While we are grateful that justice has been delivered, and that the person responsible for Marvin’s death has been held accountable, no verdict can ever bring him back or ease the sadness we carry every day. Marvin will forever be loved, missed, and remembered.”
Detective Inspector Mark Johnson, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit, who led the investigation, said: “Today’s sentence will hopefully bring a small amount of closure to Marvin’s family. My thoughts remain with his loved ones as justice is finally served, they have shown immense strength throughout this investigation.”
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