Murdered boy 'had landed dream job'

A youth of the same age is being questioned on suspicion of murdering Mark James Smith in Newcastle's West End shortly after 11pm on Thursday.

The dead boy is believed to have been struggling to make it home after he was stabbed in the street but collapsed outside the Spicy Solutions takeaway in Elswick Road and died later at the city's General Hospital.

The youngster had been issued with a two-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order by Newcastle magistrates in April last year, the city council said. But he was trying to make a success of his life, and had just secured a permanent job as a mechanic after working part-time, his 72-year-old grandmother Frances Cleminson said.

She told the Evening Chronicle newspaper: "We are devastated by this. He was a good lad who was like any other adventurous teenager. Mark was determined not to go on the dole and he had found his perfect job. He was so happy."

He leaves parents Margaret and Paul, brothers Paul, 27, and Darren, 19, and sisters Sara, 26, and Debra, 12. The family were too upset to speak about the tragedy at their home in St John's Walk, on the other side of St John's Cemetery from where he collapsed.

Police sealed off Elswick Road and neighbouring streets where the violence was thought to have started. Numbered yellow markers were left in the street showing where bloodstains were found on pavements and the road surface.

Forensic specialists wearing white suits and masks scoured the pavements for clues, while uniformed officers guarded the cordoned-off areas.

Floral tributes were left close to the tent, with one card saying "Thinking of you Mark, you should still be here" and another, "To Mark, rest in peace son, why?"

DCI Roger Ford, leading the murder investigation, said: "We believe that at the time this happened, about 11.10pm, there were a number of people in the areas of Gill Street, Axbridge Gardens and Elswick Road and I have no doubt that members of the public who were walking, driving or living in the area would have seen or heard something. I would urge these people to contact the police urgently."