Police have released the names of the two men charged with the murder of a 25-year-old man in west London on Thursday.
George Koh, 24, and Jonathan Okigbo, 23, both of north London, appeared at Westminster magistrates court and were accused of murder, Koh was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
The pair appeared in court and spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. They were remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.
While police have yet to officially release a name, various people on social media and modelling agencies have identified 25-year-old Harry Uzoka as the victim, The Guardian reports.
It has been revealed that Koh, from Camden, was previously signed to IMG models and his portfolio includes work for fashion brands including Louis Vuitton and Paul Smith.
A representative for IMG models told IBTimes UK:
Koh hasn’t been on our books since March ’17.
Koh was arrested on Sunday while Okingbo was arrested the following day.
According to Scotland Yard, the official statement regarding the death of a 25-year-old man fatally stabbed in Oak Road, East Acton, is that it was a ‘robbery gone wrong’.
Harry Uzoka had a promising career as a model and was signed to Premier Model Management, the agency responsible for cultivating the careers of fashion icons Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. Friends of Uzoka described him as an ‘inspiration to young black men’, the BBC reports.
His tragic death has led to tributes being poured out to him on social media last week, including one from fellow model Jordan Dunn who described him on Twitter as a ‘young king’.
Singer-Songwriter MNEK, who has worked with the likes of Rudimental and Stormzy, wrote:
SHOCKED. i met him various times and thought he was always so cool. my heart goes out to his family. RIP
Online clothing store Everlane, who were one of the brands to work with Harry described him not just ‘a wonderful model but even more so a good person and a pleasure to work with’.
In their tribute they wrote:
We’re deeply saddened to hear about Harry Uzoka’s passing.
He was a wonderful model but even more so a good person and a pleasure to work with.
There’s so much more behind the person you’ve seen in our campaigns.
Thank you, Harry, for being such a great person. Rest in peace.
Uzoka featured in men’s magazine GQ who wrote in a statement that they:
… are appalled and saddened by his death and would like his family to know that our thoughts and prayers are with him and his loved ones.
A spokesperson for denim brand G-Star RAW said:
Harry has worked closely with us as a model. Harry had a contagious personality – he would light up the room and make everyone on set smile.
We will miss him.
During a press conference London Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Beverley Kofi said:
This is another tragic murder with a young male victim who has met a violent death. We believe there were a number of people involved, but we are still working to establish the circumstances and a possible motive.
We have made two arrests and continue to pursue a number of lines of inquiry. We need the public’s help to piece together what happened – who the victim was seen with, the incident itself and the immediate aftermath.
The BBC estimates that last year more than 13,000 knife offences were committed in London alone, with 37,000 knife crime incidents occurring across the country in 2017. Tragically Harry Uzoka has become the latest victim and another statistic in the rising culture of knife crime in London and the United Kingdom.
We here at UNILAD would like to extend our sincerest condolences to Harry’s family and friends at this difficult time.
If you have any information about the stabbing which took place in Oak Road, East Acton on Thursday January 11, you can call Hammersmith and Fulham Police anonymously by dialling 101.
