Ex-Queen’s banker killed ‘with one punch’ in leafy London suburb – as friend comedian Rob Beckett makes plea for witnesses
A MURDER investigation has been launched after a banker died following in a vicious assault in a London suburb.
Oliver Dearlove, 30, was attacked in a tranquil street at 12.45am on Sunday and died in hospital at 10.22pm the same day.
Witnesses said friends and a police officer fought to save his life in the Blackheath street, before he was rushed to hospital.
Mr Dearlove worked for private bank Duncan Lawrie, he had previously been employed by Coutts, the Queen's bank.
The young banker had been out with friends from university at the time of the attack.
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His friend comedian Rob Beckett has has appealed for witnesses to the attack to come forward and help the police investigation.
He tweeted: "My best friend growing up Oli Dearlove was killed in #Blackheath. If you have any info please report it."
Cops are particularly keen to speak to a group of four white women seen speaking to Mr Dearlove moments before he was murdered.
DCI Lee Watling of the Met's homicide and major crime command said: "We are retaining an open mind at this stage of the investigation with regards to a motive and our primary aim is to establish how Mr Dearlove came to receive the injuries which led to his death.
"We are appealing for anyone who was at Tranquil Vale who witnessed the incident in particular a group of up to four white females who Mr Dearlove and his friends were speaking to around the time the offence occurred."
Mr Dearlove's mum Joy Wright told the : “He and his friends all met up, had lunch, dinner, drinks. He texted his girlfriend that he loved her around 10pm. Someone picked a fight, punched him and [he] fell backwards and that was it.
“I don’t think there was an altercation. I think someone said to him and his friends ‘what are you looking at’ and that was it. I think he stopped breathing when he hit the floor. His friends gave him CPR.
“He was just perfect. I’m in a state of shock. We have friends and family here and we’re all pulling together. Sometimes I’m alright, sometimes I’m not. I’m absolutely devastated for him.”
Mr Dearlove lived with his girlfriend, Claire Wheatley, in Eltham, he was a keen footballer planning a holiday to Las Vegas next week.
Ms Wheatley, who met her partner at a New Year's Eve party, told the Guardian: “He and his friends aren’t the kind of guys who look for trouble. They like having a good time and a bit of banter. But he’s just the kindest person and would normally cower away from things like that, from any altercation.”
Police were sweeping the scene of the brutal crime for evidence on Sunday.
A post-mortem will be held on Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0208 721 4205. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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