French students murder: Stabbed 'for computer games and PIN codes'

Detectives investigating the horrific murder of two French students in London fear that they were tortured and killed for two computer games and the PIN codes to their bank cards.

Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were stabbed 243 times, tied to chairs, gagged and burnt in one of the most "frenzied and brutal" murders ever investigated by Scotland Yard.

The strongest line of inquiry is that they were targeted by a burglar at the flat in New Cross who had raided the flat six days earlier.

Scotland Yard chiefs are shocked that such a level of violence could be used in the burglary of two Sony PSP consoles, worth around £100 each.

They are also investigating whether the young scientists' cash cards are missing, and fear that they may have been tortured and repeatedly stabbed until they revealed their PIN codes.

Detectives are linking the stabbing to a previous raid, six days before the murder, in which a laptop computer was stolen. They are also investigating whether a set of keys was taken, which would explain why there was no forced entry prior to the attack on Sunday.

Det Chf Insp Mick Duthie who is leading the investigation, said: "The search of the address is not yet completed, but we have established that two Sony PSPs are missing and believe they were taken during the incident on Sunday when the two men were killed.
"We are keen to hear from anyone who has recently been offered a laptop and two personal game consoles, or knows someone who has unexpectedly come to have them.