M25 Cobham Services murder: Man battered to death with shovel in ‘horrifying’ attack at motorway services

Crime scene: Cobham Services after the attack
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An Army veteran today told how he tried to save the life of a young man battered to death in front of his parents in a service station cafe.

The 20-year-old victim collapsed after being hit twice over the head with a shovel after a row flared into violence at the petrol station on the M25.

He was airlifted to St George’s hospital, Tooting, where he was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning. Police have now launched a murder inquiry.

Retired soldier Rafael Francis, 53, was filling up at Cobham Services, between junctions 9 and 10 of the M25, on his way to work for a delivery company at 3.15pm on Monday.

He said: “I don’t know what started it, but there were lots of vicious punches and kicks being thrown. They were shouting about getting a gun, that’s when I tried to get involved.”

Mr Francis, a grandfather who served in the Queen’s Regiment, could only watch as one member of the group grabbed a shovel from the back of their Peugeot van and aimed “vicious” blows at the victim’s head.

He said: “I knew it was serious but my training took over. His father was helping me try to stem the blood as I screamed for an ambulance.”

Disturbing footage of the aftermath of the attack showed the young man receiving first aid from police as a woman screamed: “please help him, please help him.”

Mr Francis, who is pictured in the footage wearing a red t-shirt, said: “His mother kept asking me if I thought the boy was going to make it, I couldn’t look her in the eye. There was just too much blood.

“Until the police came no-one else tried to help. Everyone was filming it on their phones, even as I’m begging for a first aid kit people are just looking through their cameras.”

The attackers sped off in their white van with the back doors still open, leaving a trail of tools in their wake. It was recovered by police after being dumped seven miles away in Chessington.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Jo Hayes appealed for witnesses who filmed the fight on mobile phones or dash cameras to contact 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

She said: “This was a horrifying attack at a busy petrol station and we are pursuing all avenues of enquiry to bring those responsible to justice.”

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