Number tapped into murdered student's mobile phone may hold key to killers 4 years on

 
Killed: student Samuel Guidera
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Detectives investigating the murder of a university student have revealed how a mystery phone number was tapped into his mobile seconds before he was stabbed to death.

Samuel Guidera, 24, from the University of Greenwich, was attacked as he waited for a bus near Penge East railway station on his way home to his girlfriend four years ago this week.

His wallet was stolen and he died that night. Detectives have revealed his killers may have tricked him to show them his phone before robbing him. Seconds later he tried to dial 999 but dialled 9999 and the call never connected.

Police say moments earlier the student’s phone was used to dial 0740 477 6433, a number which is not connected to Samuel or anyone he knew.

Officers say the number belongs to Lyca Mobile and is a Pay-As-You-Go Sim card which has never been activated.

Parents: Christopher and Sarah Guidera

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones, who leads the murder inquiry, said: “We have made extensive enquiries about the mystery number and are confident it was not a number Samuel knew.

“We think Samuel may have been asked to dial the number or someone could have punched it in for him as a way of attracting his attention.

“I would be interested to speak to anyone who has any information, no matter how small, about this number specifically, or a similar number with perhaps a different last few digits.”

CCTV of Samuel in a shop in Penge shortly before he was killed

Police have followed and eliminated more than a thousand leads and spoken to nearly 900 witnesses in what has become one of the Yard’s most difficult murder investigations. Mr Guidera was attacked at 9.38pm after leaving Penge East station and crossing the bridge towards Newlands Park. Witnesses saw him talking to two people at a bus stop before he was attacked and the suspects ran off. Detectives believe the killers knew the area.

DCI Jones said: “Four years is a long time for Samuel’s family and friends to wait for justice and it is long enough for alliances to change. Someone out there has information and I would appeal to them to contact police.”

Samuel’s parents Sarah and Chris Guidera said: “We just want somebody who knows something that could help in the apprehending of the killers to come forward so they do not have the opportunity to take another life and destroy another family. We still feel a sense of anger and all we can do is cope with each day as it comes, with the help of family, friends, whatever it takes.”

Anyone with information should call 020 8345 3734.

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