DETECTIVES investigating the death of a Northern Irishman on a London bus have charged a man with murder.
Archie Sheppard, 48 and originally from Ballyclare in Co. Antrim, was found with stab wounds on a Route 189 bus in Gloucester Place in NW1 shortly after midnight on Friday, April 28.
Officers established that Mr Sheppard boarded the bus at Brent Cross with a man at approximately 11.15pm on Thursday night, but the pair sat separately.
Approximately 40 minutes into the journey, police said Mr Sheppard was subjected to a 'violent and sustained' attack.
His attacker then fled from the bus at Gloucester Place, heading towards Marble Arch.
Mr Sheppard was discovered when a passenger later made their way to the upper deck of the bus.
Metropolitan Police and the London Ambulance Services attended but Mr Sheppard was pronounced dead at the scene.
John Edward Doherty, 38 of Clem Attlee Court SW6, was arrested and charged for the murder of Archie Sheppard and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon.
Doherty was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, May 3.
However, detectives continue to appeal for witnesses and information and are urgently seeking the public's help in piecing together the events which led to Mr Sheppard's death.
They continue to appeal for anyone who was in the vicinity of the Brent Cross bus station at around 11pm and any passengers that boarded the Route 189 bus that left Brent Cross at 11.15 pm.
DCI Noel McHugh said: "We are now appealing to those who knew Archie Sheppard in whatever capacity to come forward.
"It is important that we establish and get a clearer picture as to who Mr Sheppard was and the lifestyle he was leading, in particular anyone who was with him on Thursday, April 27 and anyone who stayed at his home in Neasden.
"I am also making a fresh appeal for information and witnesses to come forward.
"A number of people have assisted us with our inquiry but there are still a number of witnesses that have yet to come forward and I believe that they could hold vital information that could help with progressing this investigation."
