The daughter of a murder victim pleaded for witnesses to come forward with information that might lead to the arrest of her father's killer at a press conference on Friday last week.

Alec Christopher, 62, was killed after being attacked in Avenue Road, Southall at 6.40am on June 20. Police found him in the road with a single stab wound. He died in hospital at 10pm the same day.

At Ealing Police Station Merlyn Glean, 42, fought back tears and described her father as 'a quiet family man who always walked away from any trouble'.

"When I saw him lying there in hospital I thought 'this can't be happening'," she said.

"He had lots of friends in Southall he's been a resident here since 1961 and I can't imagine anyone would have a grudge against him. It must have been a case of mistaken identity.

"I would like to urge anyone who knows anything and has not come forward yet to contact the police."

Mr Christopher was taking a typical early morning walk when the attack occurred a few streets from the bedsit where he lived.

Ms Glean attended the appeal with her sisters, Eileen Glean, 41 and Christine Christopher, 34, and their father's brother Norris Christopher, 67.

DCI Norman McKinlay confirmed that police have interviewed four men in connection with the murder of the retired crane driver.

"A group of five Somalian males who'd come from an all-night drinking spree at an address in Avenue Road were in Southall Park 25 minutes before the attack," he said.

"They'd had a previous altercation resulting in a man in his early 40s receiving treatment for stab wounds to the head. This is being treated as a separate incident, but the victim has been interviewed.

"The common factor between these men was the occupier of the house where Somalian people regularly end up drinking into the night.

"We have interviewed four of the five men and are looking forward to speaking to the fifth."

The suspect is a dark-skinned Somalian man between 30 and 40 years old, between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins tall with black balding hair, a black moustache, a goatee and of slim build.

Information to 8247 7821 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.

By.Mark Choueke