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A father-of-two who detectives believe was murdered for simply talking to a group of women during a night out has been praised as a “professional guy” and “family man”.

Romeo Nkansah, who lived on the Andover estate in Finsbury Park, managed just a handful of steps before collapsing on the pavement, having been dealt a single knife blow to the chest in the early hours of Sunday.

Police believe that the 37-year-old and two friends, who had spent the evening in Camden Town, began a brief conversation with two women, which then led to an argument with a group of men known to the women.

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Piscopo, who is leading a murder squad with around 25 detectives, told the Tribune last night (Thursday): “Romeo was a family man. There were no dubious connections. He was just on a night out with a couple of friends and this happened. It’s just a tragic incident that we want to get to the bottom of.”

Mr Nkansah, who had two young sons with a former partner, was born in Holland to Ghanaian parents. Friends described him as a “professional guy” who was excited about having recently launched a new business venture. Police believe the altercation began at around 3.30am and within minutes Mr Nkansah had received the fatal blow. He died in hospital at 4.37am, less than an hour after police were called to the scene near Camden High Street.

DCI Piscopo said Mr Nkansah had received no other injuries, adding: “It was an altercation that took place between two groups. The altercation turned violent, a bit of pushing and shoving, then it’s literally just the one stab wound.”

He ruled out any connection, on Mr Nkansah’s part, to drugs or gangs and said: “My belief is, with the information I’ve got at the moment, this was just an altercation in the street between two groups that were unknown to each other and it just escalated to the unfortunate events that occurred.”

A neighbour of Mr Nkansah, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked to hear how her friend had died, adding: “He was a gentleman. He was a very jovial guy. He was very reserved. He was the sort of person that if you didn’t speak to him, he would mind his own business.”

She added: “He was a really good dad. He’d see his sons two or three times a week. I just can’t imagine what state his family will be in.”

Mr Nkansah had recently set up a building contractors firm, called RNA Construction. His neighbour said: “He was a professional guy, you know. He’d just set up a new company and he was really excited about it.”

DCI Piscopo said it was imperative that the women who spoke to Mr Nkansah and his friends come forward. Police have released CCTV footage of two women they are trying to identify.

He said: “I believe that they knew the group of men who eventually stabbed Romeo. I’m very keen to identify them and speak to them at the earliest opportunity.

“I’m also asking for members of the public who were in the area to come forward. There are people out there who know who has done this. There are people out there who will have seen something.”

A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday. He was questioned at an east London police station, before being bailed to return in July. The investigation continues.