Ricardo Cunha - Goncalo Amarals' cousin, shot dead in London - 11 September 2010

This is the first that I heard of this horrendous case.  I have also just heard that the victim was a cousin to Goncalo Amaral

Football fan shot dead with 1920s gun as he watched Match Of The Day with girlfriend

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 20:20, 26 January 2011



[*]


A window cleaner murdered while watching Match Of The Day with his girlfriend was shot dead by a gun dating from the 1920s.

Police believe Ricardo Cunha, 23 - who was shot once in the head after being disturbed by noises outside his south London flat - was the victim of mistaken identity after they failed to discover a motive for the killing. They say that the Portuguese man had no links to the crime world.
The shooting took place on September 11 last year in West Norwood.


A Webley revolver like the one used to kill soccer fan Ricardo Cunha last September
Detectives have revealed that they have now recovered the murder weapon, a British-made Webley Mark 6 revolver, made around 1924.
The gun, which was in good condition, could have been issued to a soldier and may have been kept as a souvenir and then stolen in an unreported burglary.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola, leading the inquiry, said: 'Ricardo was a young man with no criminal past or connections. We have yet to find a motive for his murder and cannot rule out that this may be a case of mistaken identity.'
He added: 'We now know the gun was fired during an incident on 14 September 2010 in Picton House on the Clapham Park Estate in Brixton - thankfully no one was injured. The gun was found the following day on the Clapham Manor Estate in Brixton.

'At this stage we cannot trace the history of the weapon but it was probably produced in 1924 and is in good condition. It is entirely possible someone has been keeping it as a keepsake, from the war perhaps, and it could have been stolen in an unreported burglary.'
A reconstruction of the murder will be shown on BBC Crimewatch tonight. It will feature appeals for information by Mr Cunha's sister and girlfriend.
His sister, Lilliana, said: 'He was very kind to everyone, he was always there for everyone, he was very happy, someone you could have a laugh with. He was just lovely.'
His girlfriend Sapna said: 'Everything in my life is missing at the moment, because he was my future. Why would someone want to take his life? Whoever they intended to get at that night, they got totally the wrong person.'
Anyone with information should call 0208 7214005, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350783/Football-fan-shot-dead-90-year-old-gun-watched-Match-Day.html#ixzz3DVZK6wCG
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Good lord the first thing that entered my mind was Jill Dando' it's also a large age gap for cousins Imo.It also seems strange that it wasn't reported stolen,surly such an old relic as this gun would have been reported stolen if it had any sentiment to it's owner, would also be interesting what this 14 September 2010 in Picton House on the Clapham Park Estate in Brixton  was all about.it's  weird just weird.

petunia wrote:Good lord the first thing that entered my mind was Jill Dando' it's also a large age gap for cousins Imo.It also seems strange that it wasn't reported stolen,surly such an old relic as this gun would have been reported stolen if it had any sentiment to it's owner, would also be interesting what this 14 September 2010 in Picton House on the Clapham Park Estate in Brixton  was all about.it's  weird just weird.

Jill Dando, that's the 1st thing that came to my mind too.

I just couldn't believe that this was a relative of Goncalo Amarals' - but it seems that it most definitely is.



Links to Ricardo Cunha story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350783/Football-fan-shot-dead-90-year-old-gun-watched-Match-Day.html



Quote: Goncalo Amaral http://mariacpois.blogspot.pt/2013/05/analise-criminal-28-maio-2013.html

Portuguese ..... anyone who is suspected of the practice of a crime in the UK is rigidly

persecuted and even convicted and this has happened

the opposite is not true when the Portuguese victims of crimes. I

remember here, I have a cousin who was murdered  in 

England and even today I am to know if (some time ago) his case

who was the perpetrator. Went to the window and killed him. Yes, Son of a cousin

mine. It's weird, really weird.




Ricardo had a sister, Lilliana and an Uncle, Carlos Amaral – both are Facebook friends of Goncalo Amaral





http://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1664284




Police do not know what led to the murder of Ricardo Cunha, shot in the head

Police have not made arrests in the case of murder of a Portuguese on Saturday night, in the south London area. Family and friends can not find an explanation for the crime. Ricardo Cunha, 23, was shot in the head when he went to the window of his house in Norwood. Yesterday, 20:00 by, held a Mass in the Catholic Church Kennington and friends of the young man - who played football at the Sports and Cultural Centre of London - a game plan in his honor and created a Facebook page.

Young is a native of Santa Maria, in Viseu, where it should be buried next to his father, who died about three years.

In London for 17 years, Richard lived with his mother, stepfather and sister, who temporarily moved to the family home. "We are all in shock. Could not understand how this was happening to Ricardo. Was a family person, calm and gentle. Played soccer, went to work and came home, only that," said the uncle, Carlos Amaral, the This is Local London newspaper.

The neighborhood is stunned. "There are no problems, it's a quiet area," said Kouku D'Almeida. Another resident said people heard a similar noise to fire fireworks and felt footsteps of someone running before the police arrived.

The investigation is being led by Nick Scola, of the homicide and serious crime of the Metropolitan Police, who are still trying to "establish the motive for this crime" department.

Makes one`s mind think of Mafia type of goings on, particularly after someone killed GA`S dog.

What was going on with GA in September 2010?  In early September the McCanns had requested a separation of his and Sofia`s assets, to which Sofia said no.  In October the book ban was overturned.

Woofer wrote:Makes one`s mind think of Mafia type of goings on, particularly after someone killed GA`S dog.

What was going on with GA in September 2010?  In early September the McCanns had requested a separation of his and Sofia`s assets, to which Sofia said no.  In October the book ban was overturned.

A reconstruction of the murder will be shown on BBC Crimewatch tonight. It will feature appeals for information by Mr Cunha's sister and girlfriend.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350783/Football-fan-shot-dead-90-year-old-gun-watched-Match-Day.html#ixzz3DZ2vGQyK 
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Shocking. No-one brought to justice even though the murder weapon is found. And shot at point blank range. How disgusting.

And I notice that Crimewatch rears its ugly head again. Well, well, well. 

Not doing very well, are they despite their 'reconstructions'? 

Madeleine McCann, Jill Dando, Detective Amaral's young relative? The perpetrators of the crimes still at large. And could kill again of course.



Scary stuff.

Young is a native of Santa Maria, in Viseu, where it should be buried next to his father, who died about three years. 


I presume 'Young' means Richard? And it is a translation error, or something? I wonder what happened to his father, if my understanding of the above is that this young man will be buried next to his father (in Portugal?) who, it would appear, is Detective Amaral's cousin?

What a horrible crime. He looks like such an intelligent, likeable young man.

https://twitter.com/mariaccnr/status/511960693420331009

Twitter thread. The murder was one month before the start of the Lisbon trial, according to this thread.

Just reminded of this tragedy from the forum widgets.



Another unresolved crime investigated by London's Metropolitan Police.

Updates from September 2015 and September 2020..

Mother’s plea for answers five years after her son was shot dead at home



By Kiran Randhawa - 11 September 2015

The family of a man gunned down at his home in a case of mistaken identity today made a fresh appeal to find his killer.

On the fifth anniversary of his death, the mother and girlfriend of Ricardo Cunha are calling for answers and asking for help in their fight for justice.

The 23-year-old was shot in the head as he looked out of the window of his flat in West Norwood after somebody knocked on the door at around 11.20pm on September 11, 2010.

Detectives say the window cleaner and keen footballer, who had no criminal links, was the victim of mistaken identity.

His mother, Maria Cunha, said: “Five years have passed since we lost our boy and we still don’t have answers about what happened and why his life was taken away so cruelly. Nothing will bring our Ricardo back to us but I want whoever did this to my son to pay for what they did.”

She added: “Ricardo had his life ahead of him, so many plans and it was all stolen from him. I don’t know how on earth someone could do this to Ricardo. Five years have passed but there is not a day that goes by that we don’t cry for not having our Rick here with us. So I strongly appeal to anyone out there that has information to come forward and help.”

In 2011 Metropolitan Police issued an image of a 1924 Webley Mark Six Revolver which may have been the murder weapon.

They believe it could have been kept as a keepsake, with the possibility that it may have been stolen in an unreported burglary before finding its way into the hands of the killer.

Detectives know that the same gun was fired during an incident on the Clapham Park Estate in Brixton three days after Mr Cunha’s murder.

Mr Cunha’s girlfriend, Sapna Daby, said: “I do not think people understand the pain me and his family have been through for the past five years.

“We are still seeking answers and for someone to come forward with information.”

Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command at Scotland Yard, said: “Ricardo was a young man who was mercilessly gunned down and those responsible for his death have continued to live their life whilst Ricardo was robbed of the chance of living his.

“We believe that someone knows who shot an innocent man in his own home. With the passage of time allegiances can change and we are directly appealing to those who for whatever reason did not come forward at the time to use this opportunity to come and speak to us now.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room on 0208 721 4005, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or email ricardomurder@met.police.uk

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/mother-s-plea-for-answers-five-years-after-her-son-was-shot-dead-at-home-a2945166.html

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ricardo Cunha: Family of man shot dead in mistaken identity killing make emotional appeal on 10th anniversary of murder



By Anthony France - 11 September 2020

The family of a man killed in his home in a case of mistaken identity today made an emotional appeal on the 10th anniversary of the murder.

Window cleaner Ricardo Cunha, 23, and his girlfriend Sapna Daby were watching Match of the Day when they heard knocking at the front door.

Mr Cunha was shot in the head with a 1924 British-made Webley revolver as he looked out of the window at his flat in Pondfield House in West Norwood, south London. Detectives believe he was a victim of mistaken identity.

His mother Maria and sister Liliana said “there is still not a day that goes by that we don’t cry” as a £30,000 reward was offered for information leading to the prosecution of his killer.

Maria said: “Ten years have passed and we still don’t have answers about why his life was taken so cruelly. Nothing will bring Ricardo back to us but I want whoever did this to my son to pay for what they did.

"I appeal to anyone who knows or heard anything to help us find some closure to this pain.”

Detective Sergeant Matt Flynn, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said the family had faced an “agonising struggle”, adding: “Someone knows who shot this innocent man in his own home.”

Anyone with information can contact detectives on 0208 721 4005, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/ricardo-cunha-mistaken-identity-ten-year-family-appeal-a4545201.html

This reeks of special forces/government involvement. The narrative spinning evident, e.g., "it was probably mistaken identity" and even "this antique gun might have been stolen from somebody, but obviously they wouldn't report the theft". 

Given the timing of this murder and the McCann court case it looks very suspicious indeed. Throw in the fact that it likely didn't get much media coverage, and none of the UK media articles mention the link to Amaral, and it looks even dodgier. 

No known motive, he was related to Mr Amaral, and was shot in the head through a first floor window of his home by someone with a 1920s gun?!   You couldn't make it up...