Talented artist stabbed to death 'for trying to protect his girlfriend'

The teenage son of an acclaimed artist has been charged with murdering a friend in a petty row over a taxi fare.

Louis Chambers, 18, is accused of stabbing to death his friend 21-year-old Dylan Bates-Fox.

His father Stephen Chambers, 47, is a member of the prestigious Royal Academy and a celebrated painter.

Mr Bates-Fox was knifed in the chest and arm during the early hours of the morning inside a disused warehouse which was being used as a squat in Bethnal Green, East London.

It is believed he was attacked as he intervened when his girlfriend was headbutted by an assailant.

As Mr Bates-Fox retaliated, punching the attacker and was stabbed. He was taken to Royal London hospital and was pronounced dead at 4am.

Mr Bates-Fox, of Hanwell, West London, had been staying with friends who lived at the squat. Friends said he had hoped to become a professional artist.

Schoolfriend Nick Carson, 18, said: ''I can't believe this happened to Dylan. The majority of people stabbed in London carry knives - Dylan was not a knife person.

''He was a brave man sticking up for his girlfriend. He was a lovely bloke, a very intelligent young man who was an extremely talented artist.''

Mr Bates-Fox, whose family are Irish, left school at 16 to study for a BTec in graphic design at Richmond College.

He lists some of his interests as 'music, people, living every day as if its your last' on a social networking website.

Chambers was injured during the incident and taken to hospital with a minor head injury. He was later discharged and arrested.

He was charged with murder and appeared at Thames magistrates in East London on Wednesday morning.

The court heard Chambers allegedly told pals "I will kill him - I will stab him again" after he allegedly knifed Mr Bates-Fox following a row over a taxi fare following a night out.

He appeared in the dock sporting a black eye.

When District Judge Malcolm Read told Chambers he would face a murder trial at the Old Bailey in October, the teenager collapsed in tears on to the floor of the dock and had to be helped back to his feet by two female security officers.

Chambers, of Islington, north London, was remanded in custody until a plea and case management hearing at the Old Bailey on October 13th.

On a social networking website Dylan's interests included 'music, people, living every day as if its (sic) your last'

His father Stephen was elected to the Royal Academy in December 2005.

He studied at Winchester School of Art and then at St Martin's School of Art in London and has won a host of awards for his paintings.

His says of his work that it "speaks of states of mind, behaviours and sensibilities" and he is praised by critics for his use of colour.

It is believed he is in discussions for a commission to paint the Queen.

The Royal Academy declined to comment today.

No comments are permitted on this story as legal proceedings are underway