Afternoon:
9°c
City's 21st stab victim killed near MP's home
Benedict Moore-Bridger and Danny Brierley18 Jul 2008
A teenager has been stabbed to death outside a row of £1 million homes - the 21st to be killed in London this year.
Frederick Moody, 18, was ambushed close to a senior politician's house and left to die.
Witnesses claimed they had heard the killers shout "leave him for dead" before fleeing the scene in Guildford Road, Stockwell, on bicycles. A 16-year-old was arrested this morning in Brixton over the killing.
Frederick, known as Freddy, stumbled down the road before collapsing from stomach wounds in front of his young sister, witnesses said. It is the fifth teenage knife killing in under a month and comes after a major drive by Met commissioner Sir Ian Blair and Mayor Boris Johnson to tackle the problem.
It is believed Frederick was attacked by a gang of youths who had been waiting outside his home - close to the house of Edward Garnier QC, the Tory shadow minister for justice.
Cynthia Smith, who lives opposite the scene, told how she first thought it was her son who had been stabbed as she ran into the street. She said: "I thought it was him.I ran into the road and saw the boy. It was not my son. He was lying there on the pavement. There was not much blood - it was internal. It was a horrible moment. My friend Evelyn had her hands on him, putting pressure on, trying to stop the bleeding.
"He had his eyes open and was talking to the police. I don't know what he was saying. The paramedics were working on him for about an hour, putting the oxygen mask on and pumping his chest."
Vida Oblitey, a neighbour who described Freddy as like a son to her, said she had been with his mother when he died in hospital last night. She said: "Whoever has done this has taken the only son away from a very happy family."
Ms Oblitey, 52, added: "I had just come home from work and got a call from my kids - they said Freddy had been stabbed. After rushing back I phoned Freddy's mother, who I was with until 5am this morning. I had been at the hospital with her and we were there when it was confirmed he had died."
Frederick had just left his home when he was attacked shortly after 7pm. Residents, including a local GP, tried to treat the teenager before paramedics arrived. He was declared dead at 10.15pm.
Another witness and neighbour, Sharon Smith, 23, said she and her boyfriend ran out of her house after hearing shouts and screams. She said: "He was murmuring and his eyes were just rolling into the back of his head."
Neighbours said the teenager lived with his parents Mary and Kofi and three-year-old sister. Friends said he had spent yesterday afternoon at an organised water fight before returning home drenched for a change of clothes at about 6.30pm.
Shortly afterwards the teenager grabbed a bag and left the house telling his mother he would be back in a few minutes. But half an hour later when the doorbell rang she answered the door to find no one was there. When the bell rang a second time it was a neighbour saying her son had been stabbed.
Mrs Oblitey said: "When Mary came out she saw police and ambulance. She saw Freddie lying there on the street. The paramedics were trying to resuscitate him while she was next to him."
Frederick was trying to enter a construction trade apprenticeship scheme. A family friend said: "I am a decorator and he had asked me for a reference. He had been in a bit of trouble when he was younger but he wanted to better himself. He wanted to work."
He dropped out of a one-year course in business studies at Kingston College last November, a spokeswoman said. She added that Frederick withdrew because of "external issues".
Mr Garnier said today: "There is something clearly very wrong that it's thought perfectly normal to carry a knife and stab someone when you have a disagreement."
Reader views (7)
I saw this boy millions of times at the water fight. I remember when he first came to the water fight making a big entrance on bikes with his friends, ready to have fun. He tried to get me wet so many times. I got him too. That day was very funny. But now the laughters gone, just like that he's gone. It affects me and my friends a lot that even if we didn't know him, we spent his last fun times with him. The violence is too much now. R.I.P Frederick Moody
- Cherice, London, 22/07/2008 01:18
Report abuse
Well that is easier said then done. After all, anyone who has their finger on the pulse is swiftly moved from office!
- Nigel Paul Brissett, London, UK, 19/07/2008 19:42
Report abuse
This spate of cowardice, callous and malicious wanton disregard for life is shocking and very disturbing. I am deeply shocked at what’s happening on the streets of London. My nephew was recently attacked and stabbed in the back by another act of cowardice and was fortunate to survive but the memory will haunt him and our family for a very long time. The government should instruct the courts to give mandatory life sentences to anyone who takes someone life – no matter their age. In addition, anyone found carrying a knife should be given a very heavy fine (e.g. 1000 pounds) and mandated to spend at least a month incarcerated. The perpetrator should also get at least 3 months doing community service in a hospital attending to stabbing victims and talking to the distressed families. The educational system should also include a mandatory “respect life” educational project that involves taking students to hospitals and prisons to talk to the victims.
- Winston Brewster, British Columbia, Canada, 19/07/2008 19:35
Report abuse
Please anyone reading this that knows anything at all that could help find the killers please go to the police. It would bring peace to us the friends and his family having to deal with the grief.
- Rogers, London, England, 19/07/2008 16:18
Report abuse
If it was that easy don't you think it would have been done by now?
- B.B, LDN, 19/07/2008 14:38
Report abuse
If there is no severe punishment, crimes cannot be stopped. It is very sad that crime rates are increasing day by day in most modern and developed society. Everyone is just promising to the public but practical in nothing for the poor and innocent peoples. God help us to save the society.
- M Amjad, London, 19/07/2008 14:03
Report abuse
Could someone just do something to stop the killing?
- S.Y., London, 18/07/2008 23:45
Report abuse
