Elize Stevens murder: man arrested in Hendon
The victim, Elize Stevens, 50, and man arrested, Ian Levy, aged 54, are understood to have been known to each other.
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
A man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead at a property in Hendon.
Police were called at 10:19hrs on Saturday, 2 March to a report of a disturbance at an address in Great North Way, Hendon NW4.
Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. Elize Stevens, 50, who worked for the S&P Sephardi Community as its welfare officer, was found inside the address with fatal knife injuries.
She was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.55hrs.
Ian Levy, aged 54, of 5, Lime Court, Great North Way, NW4, was charged on Sunday, 3 March with the murder and was due to appear today — Monday March 4 — at Willesden Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge. He was arrested at the scene.
Both Mrs Stevens and Mr Levy are understood to have been known to each other.
A statement was sent to the entire S&P community on Monday morning from CEO David Arden. It said: “It is with great shock and sorrow that we inform you of the untimely death of our dear colleague and friend Elize Stevens, whose life was taken. Elize was the tragic victim of a violent and horrific crime which occurred on Shabbat.
“Elize had not been working with us for long, but in the six months since she joined, we were all impressed by her friendly nature, warmth and dedication to the job of Welfare Officer, and in that short time she has accomplished a great deal. She will be greatly missed by all her colleagues who had grown to know her as she became an essential component of the S&P team. We wish her family a long life free from any further sorrow and grief”.
Mr Arden said that Mrs Stevens’ surviving three children and grandchildren “have to cope, not only with the emotional distress of their mother’s sudden passing, but also with the financial implications that such desperately sad circumstances involve”. The S&P Community has opened an account for donations and will make details available about a funeral and shiva.
The S&P vice president, David Ereira, told the JN: “We are very shocked and disturbed by this tragic news, and now our thoughts are with the family “.
The investigation into Mrs Stevens’ death is being led by DCI Noel McHugh from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is urged to get in touch. To give information please call the incident room on 0208 785 8099 quoting CAD 2535/02MAR, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also tweet information to police via @MetCC.
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