Collier Row boy Charlie Kutyauripo, 16, dies after being stabbed at birthday party
A 16 year old youth has been stabbed to death at Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford Bridge. Floral tributes at the scene - Credit: Archant
A 16-year-old boy from Collier Row who was stabbed to death after leaving a friend’s birthday party on Saturday has been described as an “extrovert” who was “fun to be around”.
The teenager, named locally as Charlie Kutyauripo, had been celebrating a girl’s 16th birthday on Saturday with around 100 other young people at a social club on the Ashton Playing Fields, Chigwell Road, Woodford Bridge.
He got into a confrontation with four young men outside the club before one stabbed him, police said. They then fled towards nearby Chigwell Road.
Friends at the party tried to save him before police and paramedics arrived at around 9.40pm, but he died just over an hour later at Whipps Cross University Hospital.
Forensics officers recovered two knives from near the scene yesterday, one a silver kitchen knife and the other a black-handled knife, but it is not yet clear whether either was involved in the stabbing.
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The boy has not been formally identified but next of kin have been informed. A post-mortem examination will take place today.
No arrests have been made and the murder is being investigated by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command.
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DCI Ken Hughes, leading the investigation, said: “There were around 100 young people at this party and we are appealing for anyone with information or any witnesses to come forward as soon as possible.
“The victim’s family are naturally devastated and in shock by what has happened and we need the help of those at the party that night to progress our investigation.”
Charlie, of Collier Row Lane, Collier Row, attended King Solomon High School in Redbridge.
Matthew Slater, the school’s headteacher, said: “We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of a former pupil over the weekend.
“Our thoughts are with his friends and family.
“He was a cheerful student who still has many friends at the school.
“We are offering support to those that knew him and any pupils affected by the tragic incident.”
Grieving friends of the murdered teenager this afternoon brought flowers to the social club and tonight gathered to remember him in a vigil.
A former pupil at King Solomon school, Jodeci Joseph, who was a few years older than Charlie, told Sky News: “I built up quite a good relationship with him, like when I would see him I would always say, ‘Hello, how are you?’, see how he is, always catch up with him, sometimes spend a lunch time or break time with him just walking around with him.
“He was a very nice boy, very good intentions, very very good intentions. He was very extroverted, very loud, but that is normal for a child to be quite loud.
“Very loud, very energetic, a lot of energy, very happy as well. He was just a very fun guy to be around.”
