ORPINGTON: Mother appeals year after son's 'execution'

Daniel Herbert, of Holywell Close, Orpington, had been on his way home from Rotherhithe when he was chased by a gang of men.

Shot in the head at close range

The 27-year-old was beaten unconscious, dragged to his knees and then shot in the head in Clements Road, Bermondsey, on August 17 last year.

He was taken to hospital following the shooting but died the following day.

Eleven people have been arrested as part of the year long murder investigation but no one has ever been charged.

Yesterday his mother Androulla, known as Ann, visited the site where her son was murdered to appeal for help in catching his killer.

She said: “The whole event runs through your head before you get up every day.

“Life makes you get up [but] I do not cope, I just get through it.

“Dan was the laughter in the house and all that’s gone now.

“I wake up and there’s no sound.”

Detectives believe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

They think he was targeted because of his association with individuals who are believed to have stolen cash and drugs from low level dealers.

Mrs Herbert said: “I’m just angry with him because he was associated with people like that.

“He had got them out of his life but it seems that because one of the boys had moved to Orpington Dan had seen him again.

Daniel Herbert was a complete stranger to his killers

It is believed Daniel’s killers were seeking retribution against his friends who they believed were muscling in on their drug dealing activities.

“What saddens me is that they did not even know Dan.

“Where does the anger come from that they kill a complete stranger?” said Mrs Herbert.

The 47-year-old added: “What scares me is that I’m never going to be the same.

“I just want to be who I was before – Dan’s mum.”

Officers investigating the murder say they are looking for pieces of the puzzle to solve the crime.

The murder weapon has never been found and all that is known about it is that it was probably a non lethal weapon that had been converted to fire live ammunition.

Detective Inspector Richard Beadle said: “It is clear he was in the wrong place at the wrong time that particular night.

“He was singled out by association.

“I am sure those responsible, probably within seconds of attacking Daniel, realised they had entered into something that would plague their consciences for the rest of their lives.

“It is possible that those involved in the attack on Daniel or the circumstances leading up to it did not set out to murder anyone, but sadly circumstances and the pack instinct took over and for those few seconds in Clements Road they became killers in what has been described by some as an execution.”

He added: “We know people know more about what happened and we want to know what created the situation.

The police need more witnesses to come forward

“We need witnesses that saw him being chased and we want information about what happened afterwards.

“What did those responsible do?

“One year on there are still gaps.

“It is imperative that we get the information necessary to fill these gaps so that the full facts and the part played by individuals is fully recognised and the right people are prosecuted and convicted of Daniel's murder.

"Only one person fired the gun that killed Daniel, it is time for those that know what really happened and why it happened to come forward.

"This case needs people to step forward and tell us what they know about Daniels death because a year on we still need their help, but more importantly Daniel's family need their help, without justice they will never be able even start healing the wounds caused by his death."

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.