£20k reward offered in attempt to clear up brutal Soho murder from 20 years ago

Police are offering a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of the person responsible for brutally stabbing a student to death at the club she worked at in Soho.

Camille Gordon, 23, from Sunny Bank, South Norwood and who was training to be a nursery assistant, was brutally murdered on the doorstep of her workplace – the Blue Bunny Club – on March 1 2004.

Despite extensive enquiries by the Met over the past 20 years, her killer has not yet been brought to justice. Now, detectives have appeared on the BBC’s Crimewatch Live with a renewed appeal to catch Camille’s murderer.

Detective Inspector Amanda Greig from the Met’s specialist casework team, who is leading the investigation, said: “It may have been more than 20 years since Camille was brutally murdered, but her family remain just as heartbroken today.

“They want answers and they want the person responsible for Camille’s death brought to justice – this is something we want too and we have not given up trying to get that for them. This is why we are now offering a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the successful charge and conviction of the person responsible.

“A lot can happen in 20 years, allegiances can change. Maybe you felt unable to talk to us at the time, for whatever reason, but you are now in a position to do so. Maybe you saw the attack or you were at the club or in the area at the time of the murder?

“Maybe the person responsible has since confided in you? I would urge you to share whatever information you have with us – it will be treated in the strictest confidence and could bring much needed closure to Camille’s family.”

Camille was born in Jamaica and came to the UK in 2001 to study as a nursery assistant in Birmingham. She moved to London in August 2003 to find better career prospects and at the time of her death she was living in South Norwood.

She started working part-time as a hostess at the Blue Bunny Club in Archer Street, Soho, to help fund her training. The club offered female company for a short period of time, but no sexual activity.

At around 6.30pm on the fateful day, Camille was working on the door of the club when a man approached her. He entered the club, paying an admission fee of £5, and went to a private area with Camille.

After a short while, another member of staff presented the customer with a bill for £375. He was unable to pay the full amount, so he paid £80 and was escorted to the exit by the other member of staff.

The customer left the venue and walked along Archer Street towards Rupert Street. He returned shortly after, but on seeing a different member of staff, he raised both hands in a submissive manner and went off towards Rupert Street.

At around 7.10pm, Camille returned to the door of the club when a man was seen to enter the doorway before very quickly leaving, walking at pace along Archer Street towards Great Windmill Street.

Camille screamed and staggered down the stairs into the club where she told colleagues she had been stabbed in the chest.

Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, she died from her injuries about an hour later. A post-mortem revealed she had died from a single stab wound to the heart.

The Met have now released enhanced CCTV images of this unknown customer, whom officers believe to be responsible for Camille’s murder, entering Piccadilly Circus Tube station shortly after the murder.

He is described as black, aged 20-25 and 5’5″-5’8″. He was wearing a dark jacket with a large ‘Cleveland Indians’ logo on the front, dark jeans, white trainers and a baseball cap.

Two days after the murder, on March 3, a man attended Kennington Police Station and asked to speak to a CID officer about a murder at the Blue Bunny Club. However, he left before CID got there and he never returned.

Detectives are urging this man to get in touch so he can share the information he has. He is described as white, about 35, 5’8″, of skinny build, with defined cheek bones and light brown hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8785 8267. Information can also be submitted online here Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.