‘Bubbly’ dad-of-three, 33, killed in ‘chase with tomahawk axe’ outside barber shop – as man, 50, charged with murder

A "BUBBLY" dad-of-three was killed after being chased by a "gang wielding a tomahawk axe" - with a man now charged with his murder.

Nash Clyne, 33, was attacked after a group allegedly chased him through Acton in west London at 4.05am on Sunday.

Benjamin Matthews, 50, of Acton, will appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court today charged with murder.

A 34-year-old man was also arrested yesterday on suspicion of GBH and remains in custody.

Tributes have poured in for dad-of-three Nash, originally from Grenada, with one friend from south London describing him as "bubbly" and someone who "always tried to do his best in everything".

The pal, who did not want to be named, told The Sun: “He was a close friend. He’s a good friend of mine.

“He used to live down here. He stayed down here for a while. We were pretty close.

“He was a good guy, bubbly, cheerful.

“He always tried to do his best in everything, and was a very energetic guy. If he can work, he goes to work, he always tried to aim for the best.

“He was well known down in this area. We are just grieving. It is shocking for all of us, we are one close family for all of us."

A cafe owner, who did not want to be named, said Nash would regularly poke his head round the corner and say “hey uncle”.

They added: “It’s so sad, I know this guy. I didn’t know him well, it was more of a passing by thing.

“He was a really nice guy. He would come in and say ‘hey uncle’."

Emergency services raced to the scene at Birkbeck Road to find Nash seriously injured, but despite their best efforts he died a short time later.

Eyewitnesses had reported seeing a "gang of four" chasing a man shortly before cops arrived.

They claimed one was swinging a tomahawk axe while others were brandishing broken bottles.

One witness, a waiter who claimed he called the police, said they saw blood pouring out from a gash above Nash's eye as he was surrounded.

Two others were taken to major trauma centres, the Met Police said.

A police cordon remains in place at the scene, with forensic officers seen examining the area around a barber's shop on Acton High Street yesterday afternoon.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command leads the investigation and said: “A team of experienced detectives is working at pace to establish why Nash was murdered and bring those responsible to justice.

“We are urging anyone who was in the area or who knows anything about what happened to come forward.

"We particularly want to hear from anyone who was at the Front Line Cuts barber shop or the Paradise Cuts barber shop, both in Acton High Street, between 22:00hrs on Saturday and 04:30hrs on Sunday.

“What you know, however insignificant it may seem now, could hold the key to this investigation.”

Information about the incident can also be given to police by calling 101 and providing the reference 1132/08DEC, or by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.