A HORRIFIED neighbour has revealed they called cops four days before the body of a Citibank vice president was found.
The manhunt remains underway after Marianne Kilonzi, 43, was discovered dead in her home in Woolwich, south east London.
The resident who wants to remain anonymous has told how they heard a woman screaming in a flat upstairs in the early hours of Monday January 13.
After being woken by the screams and a “kerfuffle”, the neighbour phoned the police.
Ms Kilonzi’s body was found at around 5:25pm on January 17, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Detectives are yet to make any arrests and are exploring the idea that her killer may have fled the country.
The neighbour said: ” I believe it happened before Friday, because I heard stuff on Monday.
“I called them [the police] in the early hours of the morning. I heard it all. I knew she was being hurt, but I didn’t know someone was killing her.
“The sound-proofing of the flats is very good – you very rarely hear your neighbours. But I could hear her.”
They continued to explain how cops arrived within 15 minutes while the noises seemed to come from upstairs.
Once officers were nearby, the resident asked them to check on their other neighbours too as they were worried the noise had travelled strangely in the building.
Unsure whether the cops did, the person didn’t go back to sleep.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Man murdered son’s partner before going to bakery for snacks” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6367488877112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]An hour after cops had left, the local believes they heard another noise.
The resident added: “The first half of the noise was a kerfuffle. It sounded like the weight of a body was being thrown.
“A lady screaming woke me up out of my sleep. I heard a lady wailing… He was throwing her about. It happened again very clearly… I heard it again and I heard banging and dragging and thudding.
“The first time it went on for about ten to 15 minutes. It didn’t last for long the second time. The last noises I heard were around 5am.”
Having not known Ms Kilonzi by name, the resident did recognise the image that the police issued.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police has confirmed cops were called to Argyll Road on Monday January 13 in the early hours of the morning to reports of a disturbance.
They have stated there was no specific incidents of concern at that time.
The Met has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in light of Ms Kilonzi’s body being found.
Previously investigators revealed that they believe the Citibank executive knew her attacker and that the “named person” is already feared to have fled abroad.
Neighbours who heard “blood-curdling screams” were told that cops were investigating a disturbance at Marianne’s home between 3am and 4am on Monday, January 13.
[quote credit-meta=”Resident”]The first half of the noise was a kerfuffle. It sounded like the weight of a body was being thrown[/quote]Her body, however, wasn’t discovered until officers forced entry to her flat on the Royal Arsenal Riverside development.
They had been called to the home following concerns for her welfare and found her body at around 5.25pm on Friday.
Residents living in a flat block where a woman was brutally beaten to death have spoken of their shock of it happening in their “quiet” neighbourhood.
One scared man living on the floor above Marianne’s said: “It’s a fairly quiet flat block, overall. We don’t really hear much from anyone else.
“Everyone keeps themselves to themselves.”
Asked if he’s worried for his family’s safety after a woman was murdered on the floor below his flat, the man added: “We’re not particularly worried.
“We checked with police that it was nothing for us to worry about and they said it wasn’t.”
A man living in a block opposite said he saw a police forensics team outside Marianne’s block, which sits just a stone’s throw from the Thames.
“Yesterday there was a police forensics team here,” he said.
“It was about ten in the morning.
“It’s quiet around here. It’s the first I’ve heard of something like this.
“It appears to be quite a low crime area. It’s surprising at night how quiet it is here.”
‘TRAGIC CRIME’
Met Police’s Det Ch Insp Suzanne Soren had previously addressed the “tragic crime”.
She had said: “This is a tragic crime and our thoughts at this incredibly difficult time are with Marianne’s loved ones and colleagues.
“We are in contact with her family, who are being supported by specialist colleagues.
“I know this is a concerning time for the wider community and want to reassure the public that whilst we are in the early stages of this investigation, we believe the suspect was known to Marianne and there is no wider risk to the public.
“This is a fast-paced investigation and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward.
“Please call 101 quoting CAD 5231/17Jan or to report anonymously you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Marianne’s employer Citibank also paid tribute to the 43-year-old after her death.
A spokesperson for the bank said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague.
“Our thoughts are with Marianne’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
No arrests have yet been made.
