Police appeal 20 years after East Ham dad stabbed to death

Atek Hussain with his wife and three children (Image: Archant)

Atek Hussain, also known as Shelim, was fatally stabbed outside his home in Burnels Avenue, East Ham, in the early hours of Sunday morning on September 18, 1994.

Despite a murder investigation and several arrests, no charges were brought. Now, on the anniversary of his death, police are hoping to uncover new information that might help solve the case and bring justice to the Hussain family.

Investigating officer, acting Det Insp Chris Pattrick, said: “Twenty years is a long time and things change. Perhaps you, or someone you know, were on the periphery of what happened that night.

“Was the motive to steal cash but did things get out of hand? Have you heard anything about this incident over the years? Allegiances change and it may be that someone who didn’t feel they could come forward at the time is now prepared to do so.”

Atek had just exited his car when the attack took place, police said (Image: Archant)

Police said one line of enquiry centred around a denim jacket found in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Norman Road, close to the scene of the murder.

Atek, 32, had spent the evening prior to his death working at his family-run restaurant, the Warlingham Tandoori at The Green, Warlingham, in Surrey.

He dropped a couple of colleagues off in Poplar before arriving home, where he lived with his wife Khudeja and three children, then aged 10, seven and eight months, at around 2.35am.

It is believed he was attacked as he got out of his blue Vauxhall Cavalier and was stabbed in the heart, police said.

This denim jacket was found near the scene (Image: Archant)

Hearing noises, his family looked out the window and saw him. His wife and 10-year-old daughter pulled him inside.

The restaurant worker told them his attackers were Asian before collapsing. A witness recalled seeing at least two Asian men running in the direction of Hameway, according to detectives.

Recalling the fateful night, Atek’s daughter Yasmin, now 30, said: “Dad was soaked in blood. We somehow managed to bring him in. His voice began to fade.

“I put my dad’s head in my lap. He was so breathless, he kept on saying ‘let me go to sleep’. He was struggling with me as I told him he needed to stay awake, I couldn’t let him sleep.”

She added: “I had to stop being a child the day dad died and grow up. I had to look after my mum, who didn’t know any English, and my brothers.

“We couldn’t go back to our family home where the murder had happened and stayed with a mixture of relatives for the first year. Everything was a mess, our whole world had collapsed.

“I had to get a part-time job at 13 to help ease the cost of living as it was such as struggle. But most importantly we missed him. We missed his love, support, his jokes, his cheery demeanour.”

Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 020 8345 3775 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.