ABINGDON MURDER UPDATE: Trevor Joyce appears in court charged with murder as Poundland stabbing victim named as Justin Skrebowski

The 36-year-old of Franklyn Close, Abingdon, has appeared at Banbury Magistrates' Court this morning. 

Speaking only to confirm his name Joyce was wearing a grey-coloured hoody, jeans and a purple polo shirt and is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court on Friday. He was remanded in custody. 

Thames Valley Police yesterday named 61-year-old Justin Skrebowski as the victim in a fatal stabbing at the Bury Street store, which happened at about 11.20am on Monday.

He has not yet been formally identified but his next of kin had been informed.

A post mortem examination is due to take place later today.

Officers were called to the Bury Street precinct yesterday to reports of a stabbing.

Witnesses described a man entering Poundland and taking "three or four" knives off the shelves.

Shoppers ran for their lives as the attack unfolded.

The shop was closed today as a mark of respect to the victim, and is expected to reopen on Thursday.

Floral tributes have steadily been growing outside the store in tribute to the man. Bright bunches made up of daisies and carnations were placed by its front doors.

Passers-by stopped to pause, reflect and read the messages attached to the bouquets. One said: “From all of the staff in Poundland rest in peace,” and another paid tribute from staff at Superdrug.

People who gathered chatted to each other about the murder, still seemingly in shock.

Many peeked into the windows of the shop, until they were blacked out by Poundland staff with sheets of black material.

A man wielding a knife was captured on CCTV outside the Spar store in High Street being overwhelmed by an off-duty police officer and a have-a-go hero called Ross Overton.

The video shows a man outside the store with a knife in his hand before being threatened with a Taser. He then lies down before an off-duty officer and Mr Overton sit on him to prevent him escaping.

An 80-year-old man was also injured during the incident. He was attacked while sitting on a bench outside the store in Bury Street.

He sustained minor injuries to his hand, police said.

Supt Rory Freeman, LPA Commander for Abingdon, said: “A man tragically lost his life yesterday and I know it will take some time for the community to come to terms with what happened.

“We have additional patrols in the area, including the Thames Valley Police Mounted Section. British Red Cross staff and volunteers are also working with us to give emotional support to members of the public who witnessed the incident.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the public who responded so bravely to the incident, in particular the nurses nearby who came to help, Poundland staff and customers and the staff of Santander bank. I would also like to commend the off-duty police officer who apprehended the man who was arrested.

“This was a shocking incident, but I am proud of how the community has come together in response.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the victim’s family and friends.”

Town leaders praised the actions of police and have-a-go hero Mr Overton.

Vale of White Horse District Council leader Matthew Barber, who was in Abingdon at the time of the incident, described the police response as "fantastic".

He added: "I saw about 10 police cars coming up Ock Street - it was reassuring the man was apprehended so quickly."

Abingdon town council leader Sandy Lovatt said: "I am quite shocked by what has happened.

"Abingdon is a market town and we are trying to build up the community spirit - it's not what you expect to happen in the precinct."

Abingdon South county councillor Neil Fawcett said: "One of your first thoughts is 'I shop there so it could have been me or one of my family'.

"Everyone will be thinking of the family and friends of the person who died.

"This was the second violent incident in the town in a number of weeks (following the shooting of Kerry Reeves) but Abingdon is still a relatively safe town and people should not feel unsafe.

"Members of the public and police responded very quickly and that was commendable and reassuring."

Town mayor Helen Pighills added: "A lot of people are shocked and upset.

"It must have been very hard for people who witnessed what happened - they must have been very scared.

"I arrived in the town centre shortly after they got the man under control.

"I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who died."

Today business owners and customers were trying to get back to normal.

Ian Collett, owner of The Bookstore said: "It was a slow start but it's picked up. Town is starting to get back to normality. It will recover when there is more information. People are hoping it wasn't random, that he knew him. It won't make it better but it would make it easier to understand.

"I think the town got off lightly yesterday. The precinct was heaving and he walked right through the town with a very large weapon - it could have been much worse."

Stephanie Lett, manager of Pandora, said "We locked the doors when we saw him walking past with the knife. Everything is getting back to normal now but customers are still talking about it."

Sara Vaz, who manages Greggs, said: "None of us saw him but customers did. We waited for the police and closed the shop at 12.45pm.

"It's an awkward ambience round town today with the police around, but it's coming back to normal. We've been quieter than usual, especially this morning. Usually we do breakfast for everyone who works near but not many came in today."

Meanwhile members of Abingdon churches, who offered safety to Poundland customers yesterday as they ran from the knifeman, will use the free community space in Bury Street to help people deal with the tragedy.

Rosie Marshall, a volunteer from Abingdon Baptist Church in Ock Street, said: "We had the space booked out all week and yesterday was our first morning, but obviously we were evacuated by police.

"We set it up for people to come and explore the Christmas story but today people can come and reflect on the incident yesterday."

Her colleague Sarah Fry, who lives in the town centre, was at the community space just a few metres from Poundland when the knifeman struck.

She said: "I was outside handing out sweets, I could see people running and as he got closer I realised he had two knives. I ran into the shop and got the keys to lock the door.

"We got people to come in as they were running past, it was a bit surreal really. It was just completely shocking.

"People were really reluctant to come in, it happened so quickly that they didn't realise what was going on. But the ones who did were glad to get away. There were a couple of older ladies and a little girl with her mum. She sat at the back at did colouring, I think she was oblivious.

"We prayed for them. It was quite timely us being here, I think I prayed out loud. It helped me deal with it."

Her group set up a prayer tree outside the community space today, where passers-by can write down prayers for families affected yesterday.

Also from the church were two street pastors who patrolled Bury Street this morning, listening to people who needed to talk about the tragedy.

Street pastor Ed Evans, from Abingdon, said: "We are normally out on a Saturday night helping people get back from the pub, but today we are here in case people are upset and to listen if people want to talk.

"We are catching up with shop owners who might have seen something.

"People are generally subdued and neutral, really just a bit quieter. There are less people than you would normally expect. People haven't been put off completely but there are nerves, people will be emotional."

His colleague Patrick Mulqueen, also from Abingdon, said: "We are trying to be reassuring. We are less intimidating than the police.

"Our message would be to be reassured that the town is safe and come and do your shopping as normal."