Funeral plea to fight knife crime

Lubi Takson, made his plea as his nephew Kodjo Yenga, 16, was buried following a moving requiem mass attended by hundreds of mourners.

The teenager died from a single stab wound to the heart after being attacked in Hammersmith Grove, west London, in March.

Kodjo's death was one of a string of shootings and stabbings which have claimed the lives of teenagers since the end of January.

Mr Takson said after the service, held at St Francis of Assisi Church in Notting Hill, west London: "Thank God we are at last taking our beloved Kodjo to his final place of rest, where he will surely enjoy eternal and divine peace.

"There's no need to remind everyone how painful it is to lose a child at this tender age.

"However, if there are lessons to be learned, the authorities ought to do more in terms of providing support to the bereaved families and parents should be encouraging the youngsters to co-operate with the police in giving evidence whenever they witness an incident.

"Not only will this attitude make the police job much easier during investigations, but the society in which we all live could become a better place."

He added that the family would be campaigning to make sure no other person would have to bury a loved one under the same circumstances.