Two men were stabbed to death over the weekend as the number of homicide investigations in 2019 equalled last year’s decade-high toll.
Dmytro Balaban, 28, suffered knife wounds at a house party in Neasden, Brent, on Saturday.
Violence broke out in Village Way shortly after 1.30am.
Mr Balaban was pronounced dead about 40 minutes later.
One neighbour described hearing a thud before rushing outside and seeing him sprawled on the kitchen floor next door.
Friends today paid tribute to Mr Balaban, thought to be a Ukrainian national. One wrote on Facebook: “Dimi rest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Just after 10pm on Saturday, police were called to a house in Dagenham and found Viorel Stefan, 49, suffering from stab injuries.
The Romanian national was pronounced dead at the scene in Marlborough Road at 10.39pm.
A 55-year-old woman also suffered stab injuries in the attack. Neighbours described hearing a scream before she ran out into the street shouting for help after a fight broke out inside.
One told the Standard: “We heard the screams so we went to see what was happening. The front door was open and there was blood everywhere.”
Another neighbour, Dolly Olatunji, 54, said: “We are all really shocked. It’s just really sad.”
A 59-year-old man was charged with murder last night after being arrested at the scene.
Scotland Yard confirmed the victim and suspect were known to each other.
The latest attacks mean there have been 134 violent killings in the capital since January 1 and 2019 is on course to be the bloodiest year of violence in London since 2008, which saw 154 homicide cases.
Volodymyr Hololvatskyi, 23, of Village Way, was due to appear at Willesden magistrates’ court today charged with Mr Balaban’s murder.
Vasile Firanda, 59, of Marlborough Road, was due to appear at Barkingside magistrates’ court today charged with Mr Stefan’s murder and GBH.
