The Met has charged Leroy Heffron, 38, of Sangley Road, Catford, with murder after Thomas Carey, 39, died at an address in Poynders Road, Lambeth.

A 38-year-old man from Sangley Road in Catford has been charged with murder. Thomas Carey, 39, from Lambeth, died after being found with severe head injuries at an address in Poynders Road, SW4, in the borough of Lambeth, about five miles west of Catford.

Leroy Heffron was charged on Thursday 10 September and remanded in custody, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. The force said he would appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing the same day.

A charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt. Criminal proceedings are now active and the case will be decided by the courts.

What the police have said happened

The facts below are taken from the Met’s two published statements, naming the victim on 7 September and announcing the charge on 10 September.

  • At around 8.35pm on Friday 4 September, the London Fire Brigade called police to an address in Poynders Road, SW4. Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service.
  • A man was found with severe head injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after they arrived.
  • On Sunday 7 September, the force named him as 39-year-old Thomas Carey, from Lambeth.
  • On Tuesday 8 September, officers arrested two men in their 30s on suspicion of murder. A woman in her 30s was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
  • On Thursday 10 September, Leroy Heffron, 38, of Sangley Road, Catford, was charged with murder and remanded in custody.

The Met said the other arrested man was bailed pending further enquiries. The woman remained in police custody at the time of the charge statement.

Timeline of the Poynders Road investigation: police called and a man pronounced dead on 4 September, the victim named as Thomas Carey on 7 September, three arrests on 8 September, and Leroy Heffron charged with murder on 10 September

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are pleased with the progress of the investigation into Thomas’ death, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this difficult time. Our enquiries remain ongoing, and we continue to appeal for information.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who leads policing in the local area, said: “We know this incident has caused concern and sadness across the local community, particularly among those who knew Thomas. Residents may continue to see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.”

The force said Mr Carey’s next of kin continue to be supported by specialist officers.

The appeal for information

The investigation is not closed. Detectives are asking for anything seen or heard that was unusual on the evening of Thursday 3 September into the early morning of Friday 4 September, in the Poynders Road area.

  • Call 101 quoting the reference CAD7021/04SEP26.
  • Footage helps: police have asked specifically for CCTV, doorbell and dashcam recordings.
  • Information can be given anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

What it means for you

The death and the police activity around it are in Lambeth, not Lewisham. The local connection is the address of the man charged, which the force gave as Sangley Road, Catford.

If you drive between Catford and Clapham, Poynders Road is a stretch of the A205 South Circular; the Met’s statements mention no ongoing road closure. People in the area around Poynders Road may see more officers on patrol over the coming days, and the force has invited anyone with questions to speak to them.

Because proceedings are active, there is a limit to what can be reported from here. We will report further only from official records: the Met’s own statements and, once the case concludes, the outcome as formally announced. Updates will be added to this page rather than published as new stories.