Residents in a quiet New Addington street have been stunned by the killing of a father-of-two gunned down just yards from his own doorstep.

Neighbours of John Marzetti expressed shock at his violent death last Thursday (October 11), a rare event for this close-knit and relatively safe New Addington community.

A long line of flowers now marks the spot where the 45-year-old was shot between five and seven times as he walked to his car parked on a residential lot on the Fieldway estate.

Rose Williams, who lives just behind John Marzetti, is still stunned by last Thursday's events.

She said: "I've never known anything like this to happen in the 31 years that I've lived here. He was a friendly fellow who used to keep an aviary in his back garden.

"We can't imagine what sort of person would do this."

Rose's husband, Brian, said: "We weren't here at the time but when we got home there were police everywhere. We were escorted back to our homes and there were forensic officers combing the area.

"For three nights after the killing there was a police officer 24-hour guard at the scene.

"It's very strange. Kids would have been out playing at that time of the day and people would have been coming home from work."

Rose added: "I know New Addington has always had a bit of a reputation, but this isn't a violent place. I've always said that I'd much rather live here than in Thornton Heath or central Croydon. We are a community up here and this has frightened everyone."

Other residents in The Coppins were tight-lipped, clearly uncomfortable with talking about the incident.

But a female neighbour of Mr Marzetti's, who did not want to be identified, told the Guardian she feared for her family's safety.

The victim had been standing next to his S-reg, dark red BMW at 6.15pm when a black man wearing a black puffa jacket and a hood over a baseball cap, approached him and shot him several times before running down a nearby alleyway.

Police believe the suspect, around 6ft tall with a possible pencil moustache, may have been waiting in the car park for his victim.

There have been no arrests and police say they are keeping an open mind about the motive.

Detective Inspector Mark Pleece, a senior investigating officer, said: "As a matter of routine we initially had a police officer guarding the area.

"There are no links to Operation Trident which investigates Yardie crime but the timing of the incident is significant. People would have been around.

"We are in the process of building up a profile of the victim to see if we can establish a motive."

Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 020 8247 8265 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

October 23, 2001 17:00