TWO years since University of Greenwich student Samuel Guidera was murdered in Penge his grieving family and girlfriend have made an emotional appeal for help to catch his killer.

Despite four arrests and a £20,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person responsible, the 24-year-old’s murder remains unsolved.

At 9.55pm on Saturday February 12, 2011, Samuel was found collapsed in the street at Bailey Place, at the junction with Newlands Park, around 200m from Penge East station.

He was taken by ambulance to hospital and was pronounced dead at 10.55pm.

His wallet had been taken from him in the attack. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a single stab wound to the heart.

Samuel had spent the day watching football on television with friends and had then travelled on the 9.17pm train from Bickley to Penge East, arriving just before 9.30pm.

He crossed the footbridge over the railway to the Newlands Park exit en route to meet his girlfriend.

This Is Local London: Samuel Guidera's girlfriend Claire Smith

Samuel's girlfriend Claire Smith (pictured) said: "Two years on, I want to know what gave these people the right to end Sam's life like that.

“His desperate attempt to call 999 before he lost consciousness, the panic he must have felt when he realised what was happening, the loneliness of dying in the street without a single person who knew his name; these things will haunt me forever, but Sam actually went through them.

“And for what?

"I think we have all come to realise that time simply gives you the means to learn how to pretend that everything is okay.

“Life forces you to carry on and be "normal".

“Even wonderful things that have happened since Sam was killed have a bitterness surrounding them, like the new babies that have been born into his family that will never know him, the celebrations that have happened with a piece missing.

"Sam was studying history and politics and would have been an amazing teacher.

“He never felt that he was better than anyone else; he was friends with people from every walk of life.

“Everyone who knew Samuel is so proud to have known him and shared a part of his life.

“I feel so privileged to have been able to say "I love you" and hear him say it back.

“Now we direct those words to a hole in the ground and hear nothing but silence in response.

“He was 24 years old.

“There will never be a time that I stop dreaming of seeing that smile again."

This Is Local London: Samuel Guidera's parents Sarah and Chris are appealing for help to catch their son's killer

Samuel's mother and father, Sarah Guidera and Chris Guidera (pictured above), said: "From the moment Samuel was murdered on February 12, 2011, we as his parents started a life sentence from which we will never be released.

"We still feel a sense of anger and all we can do is continue to cope with each day as it comes, with the help of medication, family, friends, whatever it takes.

“As parents we have seen the devastation and heartbreak it has caused Sam's brother and sister, other family members and friends.

“We just want somebody out there 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 person's life and destroy another family.

“It could be somebody reading this who gets the call about the savage death of a loved one next.

"So we miss and think of him so much every single day, we cry, we love him so much.

“Time is not a healer, we will never get back to normal; the people we were before no longer exist.

“So please look at your son, brother, uncle, think how you would miss them and if you know anything come forward; don't let the cowards who took my son's life kill again."

This Is Local London: Police think these men might have vital information about the murderPolice think these men might have vital information about the murder

This Is Local London: Police want this man to come forwardPolice want this man to come forward

 

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones: "Whilst two years have passed since the murder of Samuel Guidera, the Met Police remains committed to identifying and bringing to justice those responsible.

“I am convinced there are persons within the community who for reasons, be it family or other loyalties, have yet to come forward with the information they have.

"I would ask them to consider the devastating impact Samuel's death continues to have on his family and loved ones and appeal for them to contact the investigation team.

“The Met continues to offer a £20,000 reward and I would stress any person coming forward will be spoken to in confidence with all measures to protect their identity and safety considered."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734; or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

In February 2011 police arrested a 39-year-old man in Penge and an 18-year-old man in Sydenham on suspicion of murder.

The next month they arrested a 28-year-old man in Sydenham in connection with the inquiry.

And in January last year officers arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

All four were bailed pending further enquiries and subsequently released with no further action.