Evening Standard (London): Card player knifed to death during game

A CARD PLAYER was stabbed to death in a row during a blackjack session early today.

Michael da Silva, 34, was knifed in the chest as he took part in a card school with friends at a flat in Pimlico.

Four men had been playing for some time when a row broke out between two of them.

Detectives are trying to establish whether the dispute revolved around the game.

The killing took place in a communal hallway outside the ground- floor flat in Winchester Street.

One man grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Mr da Silva before fleeing the scene.

The other players called police and ambulance crews. Police said a 41-year-old man was arrested four hours later as he called at another address in nearby Cumberland Street.

Officers were today carrying out a detailed search of the area in a hunt for the weapon.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones said: "We are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around Winchester Street between midnight and 4am."

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 7321 7228.