Tonight:
9°c
Fancy dress for Ben's funeral
Rob Singh, Crime Reporter18.07.08
Friends of Ben Kinsella, the teenager stabbed to death in north London, wore fancy dress to celebrate his life today.
Dozens of the 16-year-old's peers wore colourful wigs and outsized sunglasses for his funeral. Some wore T-shirts bearing anti-knife crime slogans.
Among the mourners was Ben's sister Brooke, who pleaded for others to learn from his death and lay down their weapons. She was joined by her former colleagues from EastEnders, James Alexandrou and Gillian Taylforth.
Ben, who went to Holloway School, was knifed in the neck and chest in York Way, Islington, on 29 June after going out for an end-of-term party.
The funeral took place at St John the Evangelist Catholic church in Islington, not far from the scene of the attack. Ben's close friend Brooke Dunford, 16, said: "He was a funny, bright boy. He wouldn't have wanted everyone to wear black." She laid a bunch of flowers outside the entrance that read: "The most saddest day of my life, Ben, when I lost you. I will hold you in my heart forever, I love you, you hottie."
Another friend at the funeral was Louis Robson, 16, son of Birds Of A Feather actress Linda Robson, who also attended. He had been with Ben as he died.
Arsenal fan Ben was a popular student at Holloway School. He took GCSE exams before his death and was expected to have done well.
Three teenagers have been charged with Ben's murder. Juress Kika, 18, Michael Alleyne, 18, and Jade Braithwaite, 19, appeared at Highbury Corner magistrates' court and have been remanded in custody to 13 October.
