- .Oliver Dearlove was attacked in Blackheath in the early hours of Sunday
- .Taken to hospital in east London but was pronounced dead at 10.20pm
- .Police trying to trace group of women he was speaking to before incident
- .His childhood best friend, comedian Rob Beckett, has taken to Twitter to urge witnesses to come forward
A comedian has appealed for witnesses to help a murder investigation after his childhood best friend was killed when he was punched during a night out.
Oliver Dearlove, 30, who used to work for Coutts - the Queen's banker – died after being punched in Blackheath, south east London, in the early hours of Sunday.
He had been enjoying a night out with university friends when he was 'viciously assaulted'. Police said he had been speaking with a group of four females at the time of the attack and officers are now trying to trace the women.
Now comedian Rob Beckett has appealed on Twitter for help tracing witnesses who may have seen the attack.
Banker Oliver Dearlove, 30, (pictured above with his partner of four years Claire) died after being punched in Blackheath, south east London, in the early hours of Sunday. He sent his girlfriend, who he had been trying for a baby with, a text saying he loved her just hours before
Now comedian Rob Beckett (pictured) has appealed on Twitter for help tracing witnesses who may have seen the attack
He wrote: 'My best friend growing up Oli Dearlove was killed in #Blackheath. If you have any info please report it. Please RT.'
Mr Dearlove, from nearby Eltham, was taken to hospital in the early hours but doctors were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead just after 10.20pm.
His heartbroken mother Joy Wright, 56, paid tribute to her 'perfect son' as it was revealed he had been trying for a baby with his girlfriend of four years.
He was also due to go to Las Vegas next week to celebrate a joint 30th birthday.
Mr Dearlove sent his girlfriend of four years Claire Wheatley a text message just two hours before he died in which he told her how much he loved her. He was later killed with one punch
Mr Dearlove, 30, who used to work for Coutts - the Queen's banker – was on a night out with university friends in the leafy suburb when he was 'viciously assaulted' in the early hours
Speaking at the family home in Chislehurst, south east London, his mother Mrs Wright said: 'He was very popular, he was easy-going, he had a lot of friends.
'He worked hard, he was the perfect son. We can't believe what's happened. We're all in a state of shock.'
She added: 'I'm absolutely devastated, he had so much more life to live, he was going to Vegas next week with his friends.
'He played lots of football, he got on with everyone, he was a perfect young man.
'He had so many plans with his girlfriend as well, they were talking about getting a house together and having a baby.
I'm absolutely devastated, he had so much more life to live. He worked hard, he was the perfect son
Joy Wright, Mr Dearlove's mother
'He and his friends from uni met up in Blackheath, had lunch, dinner, some drinks. At 10pm he texted his girlfriend to say that he loved her.
'I don't think there was any kind of altercation or fight. Someone picked a fight with him, punched him, and he fell backwards, maybe hit his head, and that was that.
'I think he stopped breathing when he hit the floor. His friends tried to give him CPR to save him but nothing could be done.
'I think someone might have said to his friends something like 'what are you looking at?' but no real confrontation.'
Mr Dearlove, 30, (pictured above with his brother Joshua) was described as a 'perfect son'
Mr Dearlove lived with his girlfriend Claire Wheatley and the couple had been together for four years after meeting at a New Year’s Eve party. His text message to her on Saturday night had said simply ‘love you’.
She said: ‘We were trying to get some money together so we could buy a house together. We had big plans. We were planning on having a baby as well. He was the kindest, most amazing person I’ve ever known. I’m so lucky to have known him.’
She added: ‘He and his friends aren’t the kind of guys who look for trouble. They like having a good time and a bit of banter. But he would normally cower away from any altercation.’
Mr Dearlove studied business management at the University of Portsmouth before settling on a career in banking, with his first job at Barclays Wealth Management.
He previously worked for Coutts, the Queen's bank, and was employed as a relationship manager for private bank Duncan Lawrie at the time of his death.
Mr Dearlove lived with his girlfriend Claire (pictured together above) in Eltham, south east London and worked as a relationship manager for private bank Duncan Lawrie in the capital
The scene at Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, south London where Mr Dearlove, 30, was assaulted
Colleagues at Duncan Lawrie said they were shocked at his death. Doug Keightley described him as a ‘very popular guy’.
Mr Dearlove played football for local team Lord Hood FC and comes from a family of three brothers, two step-brothers and a step-sister.
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said officers are now trying to trace four women who 'exchanged remarks' with Mr Dearlove and his friend before the attack at about 12.45am near Blackheath train station.
He said: 'We are retaining an open mind at this stage of the investigation with regards to a motive and our primary aim is to establish how Mr Dearlove came to receive the injuries which led to his death.
'We are appealing for anyone who was at Tranquil Vale who witnessed the incident, in particular a group of up to four white females who Mr Dearlove and his friends were speaking to around the time the offence occurred.'
A murder investigation has been launched but no arrests have yet been made.
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