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An elderly woman stabbed to death at her home in Peckham has been described today by her neighbors as a "charming woman".
The locally named victim, Maureen Watkins, 75, was fatally injured at her Ethnard Road home on Friday afternoon.
The retired accountant would have lived on the terraced property for about 30 years with her son.
A friend, who asked not to be named, told The Press Association: "I have lived here since 1971, so I knew Maureen, a lovely woman, a very kind woman.
"We both lived here for a long time, so we knew each other well, even though we were not going to somehow get into their respective homes." I did not see what happened But it's very sad. "
Floral tributes left on the premises of Ethnard Road, PeckhamSaturday (PA)
Another neighbor, who lived nearby for about 25 years and stopped putting a bouquet of flowers on the property, said, "Maureen was charming.
"I've been here since I was about four years old and she's been here all the time, I've always known her to say hello and that, I'm really shocked."
A police cordon remained in place on the property, which sits at the corner of a row of houses and apartments next to a children 's park.
Forensic officers entered the property while three bunches of flowers were attached to a tree on the outside.
A 55-year-old man, who reportedly knew the victim, was arrested at the scene of the killing on Friday.
The number of violent deaths in London has continued to increase, with more homicides so far this year than for the whole of 2017.
A terrible series of bloodshed in the capital, including the week of Oct. 31 when there were five stabbings, brought the total to 120.
Reportage by the press association.
