Stabbed boy 'wanted to be lawyer'

Forensic officers checked Newall House after the murder

A teenager stabbed to death in south London was a "good guy" who wanted to be a lawyer, a youth worker has said.

Lyle Tulloch, 15, from Peckham, was fatally attacked in a stairwell at Newall House, Borough, on Saturday.

Youth worker Uanu Seshmi, who helped Lyle after he was excluded from school, said: "He was really making an effort to turn his life around."

Four youths - aged 15, 16, and two aged 17 - arrested on Saturday in connection with the death have been released.

Three were released on police bail and no further action would be taken against the 15-year-old, police said.

Lyle died from stab wounds and haemorrhaging at the block of flats in which he was attacked on Saturday morning.

'Had troubles'

Mr Seshmi directs the Peckham-based From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation, which helps boys excluded from mainstream education.

Lyle joined the programme after he was thrown out of Peckham Academy.

Mr Seshmi said Lyle "had his contradictions, he had his troubles, but he was a good guy".

"He realised he had made mistakes," he said.

Lyle was a hard-working student who helped other boys at the centre with their reading and wanted to be a lawyer, Mr Seshmi added.

It causes me tremendous pain to know that such potential has been wiped off the planet Youth worker Uanu Seshmi

"He wanted to really change his life so his mum could be proud of him."

Mr Seshmi said Lyle mixed with "unsavoury guys" out of school, but he did not believe he was a gang member.

"But he had his enemies - he was on the streets and street life is a tough life. Some people didn't like his independent manner," he said.

He added that Lyle's mother had worked "tremendously hard" to support her son through his difficulties, and was devastated by his death.

"It causes me tremendous pain to know that such potential has been wiped off the planet," Mr Seshmi said.

Lyle was the 12th teenager to be murdered in London this year.

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