Sister's tribute to 'true angel'

A former EastEnders actress whose 16-year-old brother died after being stabbed in north London has urged people to "put an end" to the violence.

Brooke Kinsella, who played Kelly Taylor in the BBC One soap, said her brother Ben was a "true angel".

Ben was attacked during a row in York Way, Holloway, on Sunday. Police believe four black youths aged 17 or 18 were involved in the incident.

He died of multiple stab wounds to the torso, a post-mortem examination found.

Police said the motive for the killing was "unclear" and there was "nothing to suggest this is racially motivated or gang related".

Detectives found two knives close to the scene but they are still to ascertain whether the weapons are related to the inquiry.

Ben, who died in hospital hours after the attack, is the 17th teenager to be killed in London this year.

'Awful tragedy'

Two youths arrested over his murder have been released on police bail until a date in late August pending further inquiries.

Paying tribute to her brother Miss Kinsella said: "We tragically lost not only a beautiful son and brother, but a true angel.

"He was one of the kindest and gentlest boys God created.

"Our hearts go out to every family who has also suffered this awful tragedy - and now it truly is the time to stand up and put an end to this.

Is knife crime as common as we think?

"Please, please let us learn from Ben and every other child that has been stolen from us.

"We always knew that Ben would make a special mark in this world and although this is in the worst possible circumstances, hopefully he will be the one that finally puts an end to this."

Ms Kinsella concluded: "Please boys and girls, put down your knives and weapons and think about the pain and suffering they will cause.

"Parents, please talk to your children and encourage them to stop all this violence."

Police said Ben had been at a party at the Shillibeers pub, in North Road, when the row broke out with several youths.

'Younger homicide victims'

Det Supt Vic Rae said the row probably began after a group of youths were evicted from the club, but "how Ben got sucked into the disturbance is unclear".

The fight then spilled on to York Way where Ben was stabbed.

One of the victim's friends said Ben made a desperate phone call begging for help minutes before he died.

Mr Rae appealed for people who witnessed the fight to come forward. "At this moment in time, we believe that there were four black males involved in the stabbing," he said.

"These males, we believe, were round about the same ages as Ben, maybe slightly older, 17 or 18 years of age."

Floral tributes have been laid at the spot where Ben died

Mr Rae said officers were examining CCTV footage from the club and searching the area where the youth was stabbed.

Actress Linda Robson said she felt "petrified" every time her children went out.

Her son Louis was friends with Ben and cradled the teenager while trying to stop the bleeding with his cardigan following the attack.

According to the British Crime Survey (BCS), overall violent crime has decreased by 41% since a peak in 1995. Knives are used in about 8% of violent incidents, according to the BCS, a level that has largely remained the same during the past decade.

But the BCS figures do not include under-16s, something which the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced this month would change.

Richard Garside, the director of the Centre of Crime and Justice Studies at Kings College London, said: "If you look at the figures for the last 10 years the number of knife victims has remained relatively stable - although there have been spikes - at 200 to 220 a year.

"But there is some evidence the demographic has changed. The average age of homicide victims overall has been going down, with younger and younger victims."

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