Gavin Smyth

Gavin Smyth was found dead in Upper Grove, South Norwood on 30 July 1986.

A man was tried for his murder but acquitted.

Gavin Smyth was found just after 8am on Wednesday 30 July 1986 lying in the gutter, however, it wasn't until his mother reported him missing that he was identified.

He had been stabbed and was said to have bled to death in the gutter.

Gavin Smyth had lived in Rudhoe Road, Clapham South and had left at 7.45am. It was thought that he was last seen nearby at the Cavendish Road junction with Atkins Road.

Two police reports suggested that he had been talking to a man at the junction at that time.

The man was described as:

• Of Mediterranean appearance.
• 6ft tall.
• Medium build.
• Dark, almost black hair which was short and closely cut.
• Wearing dark trousers.

The police said that they were looking to hear from anyone that had seen them talking there, or anywhere else along the way, possibly in a vehicle.

Gavin Smyth was described as being:

• White.
• 5ft 6in tall.
• Short black hair.
• Single gold earring in left ear.
• Dressed in dark blue jacket with orange lining and sewn-on breast badge featuring a ship's wheel, a dark blue sports shirt with a ship logo, blue denim safety jeans and black Dr Martin shoes.

Gavin Smyth had been a factory worker.

The police said that there was no indication that any property had been stolen, and that as far as they were aware, he had not been involved in anything that could have led to his death.

One motive that was initially considered was that he might have been murdered in revenge for his brother having given evidence in a murder trial, although his brother had not been a star witness at the trial.

On Friday 15 August 1986 a 34-year-old manager was arrested on suspicion of his murder. However, he was later found not guilty following a trial at the Old Bailey in 1987.

The manager had been a supervisor at the Replica Plastics Factory in Balham where Gavin Smyth also worked, and had rented a lock up garage that was about 100 yards away from where Gavin Smyth was found.

The manager denied having murdered Gavin Smyth, stating that he had been at work around the time he was killed.

However, it was heard that the police first became suspicious of the manager when he tried to hide his connection with the garage and his secret life as a homosexual. At his trial, his defence stated that his evasiveness with the police was because he was trying to cover up his homosexuality.

He also later admitted taking Gavin Smyth to the garage four days earlier to show him some speakers that Gavin Smyth was interested in buying.

When the police examined the garage they found bloodstains that matched Gavin Smyth's blood type, however, the defence noted that the blood type was extremely common, and the manager said that the bloodstains had been there from before he rented it in September 1985.