Teacher, Daniel Young, stabbed to death near Tube station had 'just started dream job'
Mr Young was stabbed on his way to Coventry University’s London campus where he had just begun lecturing in history
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A man who was stabbed to death in, what police have described as, an unprovoked attack, was due to start the second day of his “dream job” as a university lecturer, it has emerged.
Daniel Young, who was murdered while walking through Kendor Gardens, near Morden Tube station, on Tuesday morning, was on his way to Coventry University’s London campus where he had just begun lecturing in history, according to the institution’s chief executive officer.
Dr Janet Hannah said: “We are saddened to hear the news about Daniel Young who had just started a role as a teaching fellow at our London Campus.
"Daniel was at the start of what would undoubtedly have been a very successful academic career.”
“It is a tragedy that he never got the opportunity to fulfill his potential. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Dr Hannah said he began the role on Monday, the Telegraph reports.
Paying tribute to the 30-year-old, one of Mr Young’s friends said: “It was his dream job. He was very excited about it.”
Mr Young was originally from Torquay, Devon and had been living near Kendor Gardens for three years.
Emergency services found Mr Young in the park with stab wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Passers-by attempted to save his life by performing CPR until emergency services arrived, according to the Evening Standard.
Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, who is leading the investigation, said: “This appears to be unprovoked attack on a man that was simply going about is daily business.
"We believe that at the time of the incident Daniel was heading towards the station and was on his way into work.
"The stabbing occurred during the rush hour period and there would have been a number of commuters in the vicinity making their way to and from the nearby underground stations and tram stops.”
A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Thursday.
Detectives are investigating whether Mr Young’s death may be connected to a non-fatal stabbing 1.5 miles away.
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wasting police time and subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder. He was taken to a police station in south London and has since been released on bail.
The first attack was on a 23-year-old man, who was taken to hospital after he was knifed in the buttocks in Mitcham, south London, at around 7.25am on Tuesday. Just over 40 minutes later, police were called to Kendor Gardens.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police on 0208 721 4961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Additional reporting by Press Association