Camberwell fire victim was threatened in armed robbery
Catherine Hickman, who died in last week's tower block blaze in south London, had given evidence about an armed robbery at her workplace days before her death
12 July 2009
ONE OF the victims of the Camberwell tower block fire had a previous brush with death weeks before she died in the blaze.
Catherine Hickman, a fashion designer, died in the fire at Lakanal House in south London.
She told a court days before the inferno how an escaped psychiatric patient threatened to stab her during a robbery.
Hickman came face-to-face with fugitive John Slavin when he walked into her exclusive boutique at Notting Hill.
The 31-year-old told Southwark Crown Court how the escapee asked if he could have a dress made for his wife before pulling out a knife from his sleeve and demanded cash.
"Right, girl, don't do anything stupid otherwise I will stab you"
Pointing the blade at her face, he said: "Right, girl, don't do anything stupid otherwise I will stab you'."
Hickman was about 4ft away from Slavin and at eye-level with him when she replied, in shock, "Uh-huh". She added: "I felt panicked. I didn’t move."
After being told the shop had no money, he demanded a gold chain lying on Hickman's desk.
Not satisified with the jewellery, he made off with a laptop. He was arrested two days after the raid last November.
The case has been adjourned for reports on his mental state until 27 July. Slavin is expected to be sent to Broadmoor secure hospital.
News of Hickman's ordeal comes days after her father revealed that she was caught up in the 9/11 terror attacks.
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