Woman stabbed in Croydon town centre yards from where teen was knifed to death

By ross lidbetter ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk

By Ross Lidbetter

ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk

A WOMAN has been stabbed in a fight which took place just yards away from where a teenage girl was knifed to death.

Officers discovered the injured woman, who is in her 20s, in Wandle Road, close to Croydon town centre, at around 9.40pm on Thursday, July 22.

Another woman in her 20s had suffered an injury to her jaw and was treated by ambulance crews.

The two women were taken to hospital, with neither in a life-threatening condition.

One passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: "It looked a bit like a horror movie. I had a look and noticed there was blood everywhere.

"I wanted to get to the car park in Wandle Road, but the police weren't letting people through.

"The area had been taped off. I think some people had to leave their vehicles overnight."

One local resident heard one of the victims yelling in pain as she was treated by paramedics.

She added: "There were a lot of police officers and a lot of people had gathered around as the woman was being given first aid."

The incident happened within yards of Mann Close, where 17-year-old Sian Simpson was stabbed to death in June 2007.

Chelsea Bennett, who was 19 at the time of her trial, was cleared of the teenager's murder in July 2008 after a jury at the Old Bailey decided she had acted in self-defence.

Speaking about last week's stabbing Bea Rossi, 45, who lives nearby, said: "I heard screaming and shouting, but I was putting the little one to bed.

"If I paid attention to every police car I'd be looking out my window all the time because it's very noisy out here.

"People are screaming and shouting all the time, so I have my windows shut and blinds down and keep myself to myself."

Two people have been charged in connection with the incident in Wandle Road.

Mark Williams, 38, of Wiltshire Road, Stockwell, has been charged with wounding and Larissa Yarham, 26, of Cranmer Road, Croydon, has been charged with wounding with intent. Both appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Saturday and have been remanded in custody until September 24, when they will appear at Croydon Crown Court.