Gabriel Ferez

Gabriel Ferez was one of a pair of French biochemistry students brutally murdered in a London apartment the night of June 29, 2008. Police responded to reports of an explosion and arrived to find the apartment ablaze, with Ferez and the other victim, Laurent Bonomo, dead at the scene. They were not killed by the fire, however: both were discovered tied up, with numerous stab wounds.¹

Fast Facts

1. Age: 23
2. Studying DNA
3. On research exchange to London Imperial College
4. Enrolled at Universite Blaise-Pascale, east of Lyon
5. Due to return to France late July
6. Stabbed 47 times²
7. Apartment was Bonomo's
8. Man seen running from building after explosion
9. Apartment broken into less than a week before
10. Victims' ATM cards were used subsequent to the murders²
11. 21-year-old male arrested July 5, questioned and released.³
12. Detective Mick Duthie called the crime a "frenzied, brutal, horrific attack"⁴
13. July 8: 33-year old suspect questioned after being treated for burns⁵

Evidence

A composite sketch of the suspect seen fleeing Bonomo's apartment was released June 6, 2008. The image depicts a white male in his 30s.³ In addition, blood-stained clothing was found near the scene of crime³.

Suspects

As of July 10, four suspects were being held in connection with the murders of Bonomo and Ferez.

1. Nigel Farmer: A 33-year-old, homeless and unemployed Londoner, Farmer turned himself in June 9. He was treated for burns to his hands and arms and formally charged with murder, arson and attempting to destroy evidence.
2. Daniel Sonnex: A 23-year-old with criminal ties in New Cross, Sonnex was arrested July 10 after a brief manhunt.
3. Bernard Sonnex: Bernard is the 35-year-old brother of Daniel Sonnex.
4. Unnamed woman: Police did not publicize the identity of the 25-year-old woman arrested along with Bernard Sonnex.

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