Warm Tributes Paid to Murdered Singer

---

Police hunt killer of "kind and gentle" Fulham man

The family and friends of Fulham singer Ian Newtion, who used the stage name Scoobie Santino, have been paying loving tributes to him following his brutal murder.

Ian, 45 was on his way from a concert in a Greenford club on Saturday March 21 when he was attacked in an underpass.

He was found with his throat cut by a member of the public and pronounced dead at the scene.

Ian teamed up with Sweetie Irie to produce a hit record in the 1990s called Money Honey and has since combined his music with a job as a delivery driver.

Newtion's older brother Cleave said: " He was a very kind, mild-mannered, amiable and very amenable person, whose philosophy in life was to try to see the best in everyone.

"What is difficult is trying to imagine anything so violent happening to someone of Ian's personality."

A vigil attended by his family, including his 21 year-old daughter, was held in Ian's memory at the scene of his murder on March 29.

On his MySpace page, fellow reggae singer Lloyd Brown sent his condolences to Ian's family and said: " Scoobie was described by his loved ones as a lovely humble guy who had a beautiful voice, always loved to sing and had a glowing smile. I had only met him once, with Sweetie Irie at a show in Leicester many years ago, a very jovial and respectful man."

Another musician, Keety General added: " RIP Scoobs, one one of the best all-round entertainers that i have ever had the pleasure to work with, always smiling and always humble. West London is in mourning."

The Metropolitan Police described Ian as a kind and gentle man, and said they had not yet found any motive for the attack.

Det Insp Lee Presland ruled out a gangland attack and said police could not be sure at this stage if more than one person had attacked Mr Newtion.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8358 0400 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

22nd April 2009