Oxford murder probe: everything we know so far

The stabbing has left locals ‘shocked’ and frightened for their safety.

This is everything we know so far.

What happened?

Officers were called just before 6pm on October 8 to reports of a man being stabbed in Bayswater Road, Barton.

The victim, a man aged in his thirties, died of his injuries at the scene.

The victim’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The scene of the incident on Bayswater Road on Friday night

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Nick Hind of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “This incident occurred in a busy area of Barton just before 6pm on Friday, and we would renew our appeal for any witnesses to contact police.

“If you saw what happened, or were driving in the area and have dash-cam, I would ask you to please check this and contact the force if it has captured anything that can assist this investigation.

"You can contact us online or by calling 101, quoting incident reference 1694 of 8 October.

“We have now made an arrest, and I would like to re-assure the local community that we are making good progress in this investigation.

“It is understandable that incidents such as this cause great concern in the local community, but our officers at the scene are there to speak to should you have any concerns or information that you wish to raise.

“Even though our investigation is in the very early stages, we do believe that the victim and offender were known to each other, and we don’t believe there to be a wider risk to the local community.

“However, there will be a continued increased and very visible police presence in the area for some days to come while we piece together what has happened.

“Although formal identification of the victim has not yet taken place, we have identified and notified his next of kin, who are being supported by specially trained officers at this very difficult time.

“Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends, who understandably are very distressed at this news.”

Police cordoned off the area on Friday night

Who died?

Police have not formally identified the victim yet.

A friend of the man who was stabbed has been left ‘shocked’ by the incident and called him a ‘great lad’.

Darryl Morgan, 36, who also lives on Bayswater Road described how the news has left him feeling ‘quite upset’.

He said: "He was a good friend. He was a quiet lad, a great lad.

"Even though he wasn't family, he felt like a relative."

How have locals reacted?

On Friday night, a 39-year-old woman who lives in the neighbourhood and did not want to give her name, said: “Obviously, it’s frightening. There have been a couple of stabbings in Barton but no fatal like this. To think! It’s quite scary.

"I don’t let my children out anyway because I think it’s a bad enough place to be. You can’t let your kids out, you don’t know what’s happening to them.”

A man, 53, who was out walking his dog, expressed his frustration over anti-social behaviour and said he wanted the police to do more.

He said: “When we were kids we had respect for the coppers.” 

He said he felt kids in Barton were allowed to 'run riot'.

On Saturday morning, Valerie Lewis, 73, who lives nearby, said: "It is very quiet this side of the road, it's awful. I have never seen so many police. There were three ambulances and god knows how many police cars."

She added: "We see it on television programmes but you don’t see it happening here"

One local, who does not wish to be named, said: "It's really werid. I have never seen so many police here as it's quite quiet [usually]."

Another local, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "[It is] so shocking. Thank god I get my bus from outside my house. Fourteen years I have been here and nothing has happened like this before."

What is the scene like yesterday?

Yesterday morning, there were multiple police in attendance at the scene with the junctions between Stowford Road and Waynflete Road on Bayswater Road cordoned off.

Bayswater Road reopened around 4pm yesterday as forensics continued to search the area.

Forensics working at the scene yesterday afternoon. Picture: Ed Nix

Has anyone been arrested?

A man has now been charged with with murder in connection with the incident.