Woodford stabbing: Teenager knifed to death 'in row over tracksuit'

The family of a teenager stabbed to death in a trivial row at a 16th birthday party today urged young Londoners to see his killing as a lesson in the “destruction” caused by knife crime.

Charles Kutyauripo, 16, died after being stabbed in the heart outside a social club in Woodford, east London on Saturday in what was reported to be a argument over a tracksuit.

Today his mother Matilda, 46, a nurse, paid tribute to a “helpful, caring and loving” son who had once dreamed of becoming a doctor. 

She spoke of her “heartbreak” at not being able to say goodbye after missing a call from him on her mobile phone moments before his death.

Charles - a pupil at King Solomon High school, in Barkingside - was ambushed and stabbed at least five times outside the birthday party at Ashton Playing Fields off Chigwell Road at around 9.40pm on Saturday.

The teenager had apparently gone outside to confront a boy in a petty row over a borrowed tracksuit when he was ambushed by four youths.

He was stabbed at least five times. Witnesses reported hearing the males “laughing” as they ran away.

He is the first teenage victim of knife crime in London this year. There were 15 teen deaths involving knifes in 2015.

His mother today told how her son moved to London to join her in 2009 from their native Zimbabwe and looked forward to a bright future.

She told the Standard: “When he came here it was his dream to become a doctor. He was so happy and excited to come and join the family here for a bright future. 

“He was a mummy’s boy and a very nice boy, always smiling and such a good person. He was such a helpful, loving and caring person.

“He was a churchgoer and tried so hard at school.  It is really shocking to us. It is not something we were expecting, and even the day it happened we didn’t even know he was going out. 

“He called me when I was at work, around the time this was going on, but I couldn’t pick up the phone and so I rang him back later and he didn’t answer.

“I’m just so heartbroken he has gone like this without being able to say goodbye.”

His father, an engineer, was too distraught to speak.

His devastated auntie, Hildgard Makadho, 47, said: ““Whatever has happened, we don’t want to see people trying to get ‘revenge’.

"We don’t want people to carry knives. This should be a lesson to all the children out there, they should realise the destruction knife crime can cause.”

A 16-year-old friend told the Standard: “He was stabbed in his heart and again above his breast. We tried to stop the bleeding by putting pressure on the wounds.”

Another friend said the teenager had lent another boy his tracksuit but had not got it back.  

Charles, known as Tugzini, was rushed to Whipps Cross University Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at around 10.45pm.

Forensic officers recovered two knives from the scene and the playing fields remained behind a cordon last night.

Detective Chief Inspector Ken Hughes, who is leading the murder inquiry, 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.”

There have been no arrests.

Churchill, David. Morgan, Ben. Davenport, Justin. "Woodford stabbing: Teenager knifed to death 'in row over tracksuit'." 12 Jan. 2016. Evening Standard. 12 Jan. 2016. <http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/woodford-stabbing-teenager-knifed-to-death-in-row-over-tracksuit-a3153261.html>.

Response: This article presents the information where a 16 year old teenage boy has been stabbed to death by unknown teenage boys. The article emphasized the need for realizing the critical situation and the disaster that careless uses of knifes could bring to someone's life. The author of the article presents a one-sided information in that the suspects have not been found or arrested. I think that whatever the reason for the murder was, those who committed the crime of taking someone else's life should take responsibility and face the heavy consequences of carelessly taking away someone's chance of living their life to the fullest. Although convicting the criminals cannot take away the victim's families grieve, I think it will at least prevent similar cases in the future.