Amanda Farquharson mother of two stabbed to death in London, England

Metropolitan Police Service homicide detectives are appealing for witnesses and information following the murder of a woman in Harlesden on Friday evening.

Police were called at approx 18:25hrs Friday, 15 October to reports of a woman stabbed in a car at Minet Avenue NW10.

Officers and the ambulance service attended and discovered a woman suffering stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed.

She was Amanda Farquharson, a 34-year-old mother of two from Wembley. A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as multiple stab wounds.

An incident room has opened in Hendon under Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

At this early stage it is believed that prior to her death Amanda was in her car – a black Toyota Yaris (reg. X224 JBO) – in Minet Avenue near the junction with Bramshill Road having a ‘heated’ argument with a man.

This suspect is described as a black man, approx. 6ft tall with a slim build and a goatee beard. He is believed to have been wearing dark coloured hooded top, blue/grey jeans and possibly a cream coloured baseball cap with blue writing on it.

DCI Jackie Sebire said: "This is a tragic murder that has deprived two children of their mother, and a family of its daughter and we are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information about the murder to contact us.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the Minet Avenue area Friday evening who may have seen or heard the argument in Amanda’s car or may have seen what happened after it."

Anyone that can assist police should call the incident room on 020 8358 0200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 53-year-old man was arrested nearby in connection with the inquiry and later bailed to return pending further inquiries.

Detectives are also investigating the death of a man later that evening in what appears, at this stage, to be non-suspicious circumstances.

Police were called at 19:23hrs to reports of a man fallen from Torridon House, Randolph Gardens, Kilburn NW6. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Next-of-kin have been informed.

Whilst officers await formal identification they are satisfied that he is Keith Van Cooten, 44, from Lewisham.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled for Monday 18 October at St Pancras Mortuary.

The two events are provisionally being linked but inquiries continue and detectives retain an open mind.