Three brutal murders have shocked two communities

THE pensioner who was axed to death on a leafy Swiss Cottage street wanted to be a beat poet and spent his days writing off-the-wall avant garde poetry, a friend of the victim has told the New Journal.
Brian Messitt, 67, was murdered in exclusive Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, on Monday morning. Waiter Joseph Sheehan, from Chalk Farm, appeared in court yesterday (Wednesday) charged with the killing.
According to friend Michael Griffin, who lived in the same flats in a converted Haverstock Hill house, Mr Messitt passed his days penning William Burroughs-style poems. Mr Griffin, a journalist, painted a picture of a pensioner who was interested in photography, travel and 1950s’ and 60s’ alternative literature.
He said: “He was interested in the beat poets and that kind of writing.”
Mr Messitt’s son Sean said: “Our whole family is in disbelief and terrible shock.”
Mr Messitt’s death was the third brutal killing in Camden in the last 10 days.
Murder squad detectives began their probe into the tragic deaths of stab victim Nicole Batten, 34, and six year-old daughter Ukleigha, who was suffocated in a Somers Town council flat a fortnight ago. Ms Batten’s partner Mark Nicholas, 29, has been charged with their murders and is due to appear at the Old Bailey tomorrow (Friday).
Little Ukleigha was listed on the Town Hall’s children at risk register.
It emerged last night (Wednesday) that the social services department – which placed Ukleigha on the register – is facing a radical overhaul.
Camden Council’s chief executive Moira Gibb revealed there would be a complete restructuring of the council – possibly including job cuts – to set-up a new department aimed at protecting children from harm.