London police issue computerized profile of suspect in the French student murders

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The E-FIT abbreviation for “The Electronic Facial Identification Technique” is a computerized method of synthesizing images to produce facial composites of the faces of wanted criminals based on eyewitness descriptions. It was proposed by Janina Kaminska at the UK Home Office in 1984.

The London police hope this e-fit will help them nab the suspect.

The French students Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, were brutally killed at Bonomo’s flat in Sterling Gardens, New Cross last Sunday. Ferez was visiting Bonomo when the fatal crime took place. Both suffered more than 240 stab wounds in total and were set on fire.

Police caught a 21-year-old man Saturday but it appears he was released soon after for lack of evidence. As a result, the police have prepared this computerized sketch and want the public to assist them. They are asking to anyone to step forward if they had received any offer for the two game consoles stolen from the flat.

The e-fit profile describes the suspect as white, between 30 and 40 years old of slight or slim build. Was seen wearing a light colored baseball cap, dark top, blue jeans and white trainers.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie was at the scene of the crime and appealed to the public: "Do you know this man, who is he and where is he?"

Ferez parents, in a press statement asked the killer or killers, to give themselves up.

Both victims were biochemistry students and were in the third year of a master’s degree at Polytech Clermont-Ferrand in central France. They were in London to take part in a research project at Imperial College and were supposed to return home within weeks.

Mr. Duthie appealed to the public:

You might have been offered the items quite innocently, but that piece of information could help us solve these murders. These were two young, fit students. We don't understand how this could have happened. If you have heard someone speaking about it, contact us.

If you have any information regarding the suspect, you can call the incident room on 020 8721 4155, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.