Man, 27, and woman, 69, are charged with murder after 23-year-old’s male’s body was found on fire in south London street
- Michael Brain, 27, and Sophia Kokkinos, 69, are accused of killing Loeike Guei
- Mr Guei’s body was found on fire on Commonside East, Mitcham in September
- Brain and Kokkinos will appear before Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court today
A man and woman have been charged with the murder of a man whose body was found on fire on a south London street.
Michael Brain, 27, and Sophia Kokkinos, 69, are accused of killing Loeike Guei, 23, who was found dead in Mitcham at 6.12am on September 17.
Three other men have previously been charged in connection with Mr Guei’s murder.
Police were called to Commonside East last month to reports of a man on fire.
Officers attended and the body of a man later identified as Mr Guei was found.
A post-mortem examination gave a head injury as his preliminary cause of death.
Loeike Guei (pictured), 23, was found on fire at 6.12am on Thursday, September 17 at Commonside East in Mitcham
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, of the Specialist Crime Command, said: ‘Loeike’s family have been intensely shocked by the loss of their loved one and are at the very beginning of coming to terms with their grief.
‘Foremost in our thoughts are their welfare – they are being supported by specially trained officers and we ask that their privacy is respected at this terribly sad time.’
Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to police, including those who may have seen any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area.
Mr Jolley said: ‘You may have information that may seem insignificant but could prove crucial to our investigation. I urge you to contact us immediately, or tell us what you know via Crimestoppers if you wish. What matters most is that you make the call.
Police officers from Metropolitan Police at the scene after the body of Mr Guei was found
A post-mortem examination gave a head injury as his preliminary cause of death
‘Loeike’s family are traumatised and we need the support of the public in bringing them justice.’
Tania Marszalek, 39, who lives on the road where the body was found, told the Sun: ‘My dogs woke me up at around 6am.
‘I was annoyed they had woken me up before my alarm and I checked outside to see what was going on – I saw a police officer tying a red tape cordon to the wing mirror of my car.
Michael Brain, 27, and Sophia Kokkinos, 69, are accused of killing Loeike Guei, 23, who was found dead in Mitcham at 6.12am on September 17
‘I immediately wanted to know what was going on and I asked the officers who didn’t tell me much at all.
‘There are people on the street who are saying a guy was found at the end of the road on fire after being mutilated, he was still alive when he was found.’
Brain, of Eyston Drive. Weybridge, and Kokkinos, of Chelsham Road, Clapham will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court later today.