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| Sister's tribute to 'true angel' | Sister's tribute to 'true angel' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | Ben, who died in hospital hours after the attack, is the 17th teenager to be killed in London this year. |
| 'Awful tragedy' | 'Awful tragedy' |
| Two youths arrested over his murder have been released on police bail until a date in late August pending further inquiries. | 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. | 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. | "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. | "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? | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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." | "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. | 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' | '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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |