Murdered Barking and Dagenham College student was ‘fun to be around’

Friends of Charlie's comfort themselves following the tragic news (Image: Archant)

Charlie Kutyauripo, a student at Barking and Dagenham College, had been celebrating on Saturday with about 100 other young people at Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford Bridge.

He got into a confrontation with four young men outside 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 about 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.

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.

DCI Ken Hughes, leading the investigation, said: “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.”

Grieving friends of the murdered teenager yesterday brought flowers to the social club and gathered to remember him in a vigil.

His friend Jodeci Joseph 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.”