The family of two ‘adored’ sisters brutally stabbed to death by a stranger in a north-west London park have told of the ‘devastating impact’ on their lives.
Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, were murdered on June 6 after celebrating Bibaa’s birthday with friends in a park in Wembley the night before.
The two women stayed in Fryent Country Park after their friends left around midnight, and were later killed by a stranger in a frenzied knife attack.
Now their parents have released a statement through police saying the tragedy has had a ‘devastating impact on our lives and each day gets worse to think our daughters… are not with us and that they have been brutally killed by someone’.
It comes as police today released two photographs taken of the victims prior to the murders which they believe could assist with appeals.
A statement by the Met Police also states that detectives have found Nicole and Bibaa’s mobile phones, discovered in a pond in the country park.
Efforts to identify the attacker – now confirmed to be male – continue.
Police released images taken of Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, prior to their murders which they believe could assist with appeals (pictured, dancing with fairy lights)
Police also discovered their mobile phones in a pond near where their bodies were found in Fryent Country Park in north-west London on June 6 (pictured, dancing with fairy lights)
The sisters’ mother is Wilhelmina Smallman, 63, known as Mina, a former Church of England Archdeacon who retired last year.
In the statement the family said: ‘The greatest fear of any parent is that they will outlive their children. What makes our situation unique is that two adored sisters were murdered together on the same night.
‘The grief we feel is palpable, our beautiful and talented daughters gone. Although there was a large age gap between them they shared a lot of the same interests. They were both very much interested in the Arts.
‘Bibaa a hardworking professional was an exceptional Senior Social Worker and a passionate advocate for safeguarding vulnerable children and families.
Nicole (left) and Bibaa (right) were last seen on their way to celebrate Bibaa’s birthday in Fryent Country Park in north-west London on June 5 before they were killed early on June 6
‘Before qualifying, and to earn some extra cash, she would transport disabled children to their activities. At her side in a car seat she would have our granddaughter who was only a couple of months old.
‘Her passengers loved them both, she knew all their names and Bibaa would have them singing as they drove along.
‘Bibaa loved her family and she was proud of her parents’ gifts and talents. Bibaa’s father, Herman having been a former ABA Featherweight Champion and Business Man setting up his own Building Contracting Company.
‘As her mother, she admired my moving from office agency work to training to be a teacher and then to train later for the Priesthood.
‘Bibaa was just barely five foot but she had the heart of a lion and a smile that would put Blackpool illuminations to shame.
A statement by the Met Police also states that detectives have found Nicole and Bibaa’s mobile phones, discovered in a pond in the country park
Police were called to at around 1pm on June 7 to a report of two women found unresponsive
‘Nicole being the youngest of three sisters was a joy from the moment she entered this world. Nicole saw beauty in everything; she had a very calm and positive attitude towards most things in life.
‘She was a strong advocate for Humanitarian causes and saving our planet.
‘Her father Christopher and I would laugh together agreeing Nicole was a child of the 60s. She was an amazing Photographer, Actor and Singer.
‘Her speaking voice was silky smooth.
‘Her voice teacher at school had said she should do radio or TV presenting. Friends and family all agree she was beautiful both inside and out.
Forensic tents pictured at Fryent County Park in Wembley. Police were called to the scene after reports of the pair being found unresponsive shortly after 1pm on June 7
Bibaa and Nicole were the daughters of Wilhelmina Smallman, pictured, the former archdeacon of Southend, in the diocese of Chelmsford
‘Nicole was incredibly laidback and very approachable. Nowadays we would be referred to as a “Blended Family” but that is not how we see ourselves. It is not something we would be happy to be said of us.
‘Bibaa and Nicole were sisters whose untimely deaths we will spend the rest of our lives trying to come to terms with.
‘The tributes for our girls keep flooding in; it has been comforting, heart-breaking and at times overwhelming. Faith and prayer is keeping us going.
‘I’m not sure how we’d get through this without it. “The bond that links your true family is not one blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” Richard Bach.’
The family’s statement added: ‘The pain we feel as a family is so deep no words can express how we are feeling. This has had a devastating impact on our lives and each day gets worse to think our daughters, Bibaa and Nicole, are not with us and that they have been brutally killed by someone.
‘We are appealing to anyone who may have seen, heard, or know something to please contact the police who are investigating what has happened to our daughters, Bibaa and Nicole.’
Detectives have confirmed the suspect received a significant injury or injuries during the attack and is thought to have left the park via the Valley Drive entrance.
Police forensics at Fryent Country Park. Prior to the two women being discovered, their bodies are believed to have been spotted a day earlier by a woman who believed they were asleep
Police also believe it is possible that members of the public may have stumbled upon items property, but not realised the significance of them.
DCI Simon Harding, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘Following our most recent appeal we received over 100 calls from members of the public who provided information which my officers are now in the process of going through.
‘We are very thankful for this response, and want it to continue. Extensive searches are ongoing at the scene and we are discovering more evidence all the time. Any motive for the murders remains unknown, and we are exploring all possibilities.
‘The meticulous work carried out by our specialist search teams has led to the recovery of a number of items belonging to both Nicole and Bibaa.
‘This includes both of their mobile phones, which were found in a pond some distance from where they were discovered.
‘We already knew that Nicole and Bibaa had been alone in the park from about 12.30am on Saturday June 6. I can now confirm that the last contact they are believed to have had with family and friends was at 1.05am.
‘They were in good spirits and taking selfie pictures, listening to music and dancing with fairy lights until at least 01.13am. Those lights created a distinctive pattern, as the two images we are releasing today show.
A police cordon at an entrance to Fryent Country Park. It has emerged that sisters Bibaa and Nicole were the daughters of Wilhelmina Smallman, the former archdeacon of Southend
A police officer at an entrance to Fryent Country Park in Wembley. A post-mortem gave the cause of death for both women as stab wounds. No arrests have yet been made
‘This in itself may have been noticeable to local residents and other users of the park.
‘We have seized a considerable amount of CCTV from around the perimeter of the park and in surrounding roads.
‘However if you have CCTV or dash cam footage and live locally or were out in the area and have not been contacted I urge you to get in touch.’
DCI Harding added: ‘The victims were much loved sisters who were very close despite their age gap. They were surrounded by friends and family and it’s unimaginable what they are going through.
‘For their sake and the sake of the wider community we need to identify and apprehend the suspect as soon as possible. And we need help from the public to do that. So please do contact us with any information you may have which could assist, no matter how small. Someone out there knows something.
I would ask them to look into their conscience and question their protection of an individual who has robbed a family of two beloved women.’
Police were called to Fryent Country Park off Slough Lane at around 1pm on June 7 to a report of two women found unresponsive.
Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene and they were pronounced dead at the scene.
Flowers an an entrance to Freyent Country Park in a tribute to the two sisters. Residents living close to the area said a number of people had been staying there in tents during lockdown
They were sisters Nicole and Bibaa ,who lived in Harrow and Brent respectively. Their bodies were discovered next to each other in a treeline.
A post-mortem examination conducted on June 9 gave the cause of death for both women as stab wounds.
Nicole and Bibaa were in a group of people who congregated in the park from around 7.40pm on June 5 to celebrate Bibaa’s birthday.
Gradually people are believed to have left throughout the evening. Officers believe Nicole and Bibaa were murdered after 12am.
Both Nicole and Bibaa were reported as missing to police late on June 6 when they did not return home, before they were discovered on Sunday.
Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command (Homicide) are investigating, with the assistance of officers from the North West Command Unit.
North West Borough commander Roy Smith, said: ‘My thoughts are with the family who have lost two loved ones in the most tragic of circumstances.
‘I know the experienced investigation team are working around the clock to identify whoever is responsible as swiftly as possible and ensure they are brought to justice. We will leave no stone unturned. Extra resources have been brought in to help from across the Met including additional detectives.’