Police release footage of fatal stabbing as motorists ignore crime scene

CONFRONTING FOOTAGE: Police have made a desperate public appeal after CCTV footage revealed motorists passing the scene of a fatal stabbing.

On Sunday, surveillance cameras caught footage of the moment 57-year-old Timothy Appling was stabbed to death on a Philadelphia, US, street during an attempted robbery.

The footage shows the killer follow Mr Appling as he crosses an intersection. He catches up with him until he is eventually walking side-by-side and attacks him when they reach a telegraph pole.

At least five cars passed the crime scene as it was taking place, but not one stopped or made an emergency call for assistance, reports philly.com.

One appears to slow down to check out the scene and another circles the area for a second time, but none intervened.

Investigators said Mr Appling was stabbed multiple times at about 3am, only to die several hours later in hospital.

Police hope the footage, released Monday, will spur on the motorists to come forward and share their side of the story.

"Even the smallest piece of information could prove critical in identifying the suspect," a release from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office read.