Homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who are investigating the disappearance of Justin Henry, have charged a man with his murder.
[B] Louis Benjamin, 29 (29.03.94) of Waddon New Road, Croydon was charged on Wednesday, 25 October with one count of murder.
Mr Henry’s family have been informed of the charge.
Benjamin appeared in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 26 October. Benjamin will next appear at the Central Criminal Court. Benjamin will next appear at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, 30 October.
Benjamin was arrested late on Tuesday, 24 October at an address in Croydon.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “As a result of our inquiries a man has been charged with Justin Henry’s murder. We have spoken to Mr Henry’s family and we fully understand the deep distress this development will cause. I have assured his family that the search to find Mr Henry continues and I know they will be hoping that all may yet be well. However, based on all the available evidence, we have approached the CPS who have authorised a charge of murder.
“I want the public to understand that this charge does not mean the end of our appeal. We still need all the help the public can give and we still need anyone who has any information, no matter how small they think it is, to make contact and tell us what they know. This is not just a plea to help police. Mr Henry’s family are enduring a dreadful ordeal and they are desperate for news and are also seeking your help.”
Justin Henry, 34, was reported missing to police on Monday, 16 October.
He has links to the SE23 area and was last seen in person on the evening of Sunday, 15 October at the address of his partner in Brixton.
He family has not seen or heard from him since, and this is totally out of character.
Police are actively trying to establish Justin’s movements, in particular late on Sunday, 15 October, and in the early hours of Monday, 16 October.
At around 21:50hrs on Sunday, 15 October, Justin was seen on CCTV buying food at a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant on London Road in Croydon.
Enquiries have led officers to believe Justin drove from that restaurant to nearby Waddon New Road where his vehicle, a silver Mercedes E Class, remained for approximately two-and-a-half hours.
The Mercedes was later located on Monday, 16 October in Kingswood Drive, SE19.
It is unclear who was driving the vehicle when it arrived at Kingswood Drive shortly after 01:00hrs on Monday, 16 October, due to indistinct CCTV image of the driver, but Justin’s family state that it was not him.
On Wednesday, 18 October, a 27-year-old woman [A] was arrested in connection with the investigation on suspicion of kidnapping; she has since been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in mid-January 2024.
Officers have conducted forensic examinations of an address in Croydon and Justin’s car, as well as extensive CCTV and phone inquiries.
However detectives desperately need more information about Justin’s disappearance and the days leading up to him going missing.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter/X @MetCC. Please quote Operation Ashgulf or CAD 5224/21Oct.
You can also give information on Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
