Sylvester Koroma murder: Detectives say friends have 'deserted' him

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-24288159

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Detectives investigating the murder of a Leicester man outside a nightclub say he has been "deserted" by his closest friends.

Sylvester Koroma, 35, from Highfields, was shot in Birmingham in August.

So far West Midlands Police have arrested eight people from the Leicester area in connection with the shooting. No-one has been charged.

DCI Sab Johal said despite several appeals, Mr Koroma's friends have still not spoken to police.

He said all the answers to the murder lay in Leicester.

'Re-examine consciences'

Mr Koroma was shot in the stomach outside the Rainbow Warehouse nightclub on 10 August and died in hospital a week later.

The venue had been hosting a two-day event called Circoloco. The second day was cancelled.

DCI Johal said: "We are still desperate to seek witnesses that knew Sylvester Koroma personally.

"We know he drove down with a group and it is those people we are appealing to to come forward.

"These people were happy to be with him when he was alive and now he is dead they have just deserted him.

"His family are finding it very hard that people they thought were his friends have deserted him at this time of need. They are traumatised by the lack of help given at this difficult time."

DCI Johal said officers were "still working on a motive" but needed three or four of Mr Koroma's friends who were with him when he was shot to come forward.

"It is those people who really need to re-examine their consciences," he added.

He emphasised that witnesses would be given anonymity if they wished.