Danny Pearce murder: Family of man stabbed to death for his Rolex say they are 'in hell' as killers still on loose

Benedict Moore-Bridger23 November 2017
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The family of a man murdered for his Rolex watch by moped thugs today said they were living in “hell” as they begged for help to catch his killers.

Danny Pearce, 31, was shot at and stabbed by two men riding a scooter who demanded his watch as he left a jazz bar in Greenwich with his girlfriend and some friends.

After he refused to hand it over he was pursued by the attackers and stabbed repeatedly with a kitchen knife.

The assault only stopped when his girlfriend handed over the watch as Mr Pearce lay bleeding to death in the doorway of a house he had tried to seek refuge in.

Danny Pearce, 31, was killed in Greenwich.
Met Police

A £10,000 reward has been offered and new CCTV footage released today shows the suspected killers, who were wearing balaclavas and motorbike helmets, riding past and pointing out Mr Pearce.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the attack just after midnight on July 15, his family told of their horror at his death and expressed disgust that his killers were “walking around free”.

His mother Jan, 63, said they needed help from the public to get justice.

She told the Standard: “I want them found because they are going to do this to another family. It is just disgusting. I don’t know how they are getting away with it. They have no morals, no standards.

Mr Pearce had just left a jazz bar when he was attacked.

“Danny was a happy-go-lucky boy, very hard-working. He did not deserve this. It is hell. It really is hell.”

His sister Amanda, 44, said they were losing hope that the killers would ever be caught. “The police know who they are.

Jan Pearce (left) and Amanda Pearce (right) the mother and sister of 31-year-old victim Danny Pearce.
Lucy Young/Evening Standard/eyevine

"They should not be roaming the streets. They are very, very dangerous. My brother did not stand a chance. Our lives have been ruined and they are still out there.

“Why are they still walking around four months later? My brother isn’t. We don’t get to have Danny back but they need to be locked up for the sake of other families. We want justice.

“Danny was an amazing brother. He was a huge part of our lives. No one had a bad word to say about him.”

Police believe Mr Pearce may have been robbed for his watch, similar to one pictured.
Met Police

Earlier this year two men, aged 25 and 26, were arrested by detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command in connection with the killing.

The men have been bailed pending further enquiries. Today the officer leading the investigation said the issue was identification and police needed hard evidence.

Jan Pearce, the mother of 31-year-old victim Danny Pearce.
Lucy Young

Detective Inspector Jo Sidaway added: “We need someone to come forward about what they know first-hand, not rumour. We’re asking the public if they have specific information.”

The electrician, of Bromley, had left Oliver’s Jazz Club in Nevada Street and was attacked in King William Walk. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

DI Sidaway said “This was an extremely violent act. It is quite horrific. He was running for his life up and down, trying to flee. They are chasing him. Every point they catch up he gets stabbed.”

Mr Pearce’s killers were “well practised in this sort of crime” and could be linked to other “high-value” robberies, she added.

Detectives are still searching for the watch, a silver Rolex Datejust 2, worth about £5,000.

A police source said: “Quite often people in these kinds of circles fall out with each other and decide they want to provide evidence that can help the investigation.”

Anyone who has information on the attack should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or crimestoppers-uk.org

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