Desmond Oliver

Desmond Oliver was stabbed to death on 24 July 1986, two days after being released from jail for armed robbery.

He was stabbed in All Saint's Road and collapsed an hour later outside the Pig and Whistle public house near the Lancaster West Estate in Shepherds Bush. He had earlier been chased along All Saint's Road in Ladbroke Grove and then stabbed in the heart, however, he didn't collapse for another hour.

A 23-year-old unemployed man was tried for his murder but acquitted. He said that he had been visiting his girlfriend at the time of the murder.

It was claimed that the man tried had hunted him down after he had allegedly punched his sister two days earlier as she was walking down the street with her baby. She was said to have been severely bruised.

Desmond Oliver had lived in White City Close, White City, Shepherd's Bush. The unemployed man had lived on the Lancaster West Estate in North Kensington. They had known each other for several years.

Desmond Oliver had previously been convicted of armed robbery and had served four years of a seven year sentence and had at the time been released on home leave two days before he was murdered.

It was claimed that the unemployed man's sister had been on a list of people that Desmond Oliver wanted to 'get' following his release.

However, it was claimed that when the unemployed man found out about his sister being punched after returning from a holiday to Holland, that he sought Desmond Oliver out and stabbed him.

Desmond Oliver was described as a bank robber in the press.