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Family in tribute to stab victim | Family in tribute to stab victim |
(about 12 hours later) | |
The family of a 17-year-old youth stabbed to death in a street fight in south London have paid tribute to the "energetic and helpful" teenager. | The family of a 17-year-old youth stabbed to death in a street fight in south London have paid tribute to the "energetic and helpful" teenager. |
Nilanthan Murddi's sister Santhiya said her parents were "destroyed" by their only son's death. | Nilanthan Murddi's sister Santhiya said her parents were "destroyed" by their only son's death. |
"He was always giving a helping hand," she said. "Every day, every second, we will be thinking of him." | "He was always giving a helping hand," she said. "Every day, every second, we will be thinking of him." |
A 31-year-old man arrested in connection with Nilanthan's murder has since been released on bail. | A 31-year-old man arrested in connection with Nilanthan's murder has since been released on bail. |
Nilanthan was among six to eight people involved in the fight in Croydon early on Saturday. | Nilanthan was among six to eight people involved in the fight in Croydon early on Saturday. |
Taxi argument | |
The teenager died three hours later in hospital. A post-mortem examination found he died from a single knife wound to the neck. | The teenager died three hours later in hospital. A post-mortem examination found he died from a single knife wound to the neck. |
Dozens of family members have visited Nilanthan's Croydon home and the scene of the crime in Sumner Road. | Dozens of family members have visited Nilanthan's Croydon home and the scene of the crime in Sumner Road. |
The Murddi family are from Sri Lanka but have lived in Britain for more than 20 years. | The Murddi family are from Sri Lanka but have lived in Britain for more than 20 years. |
His aunt Usha Muralitharan, 48, said: "He was a helpful boy. He was very family-orientated." | His aunt Usha Muralitharan, 48, said: "He was a helpful boy. He was very family-orientated." |
He was energetic, always giving a helping hand whenever it was needed Santhiya Murddi | |
Others said he enjoyed playing football and cricket, and described him as the "joker of the family". | Others said he enjoyed playing football and cricket, and described him as the "joker of the family". |
His sister Santhiya, 18, said her parents were too upset to speak. His mother Kalaimagal flew back from a trip to India on hearing the news. | His sister Santhiya, 18, said her parents were too upset to speak. His mother Kalaimagal flew back from a trip to India on hearing the news. |
Both Santhiya and Nilanthan worked at the family business - the Royal Masala restaurant in Purley. | Both Santhiya and Nilanthan worked at the family business - the Royal Masala restaurant in Purley. |
"Words can't express how I feel right now," she said. "He was energetic, always giving a helping hand whenever it was needed." | "Words can't express how I feel right now," she said. "He was energetic, always giving a helping hand whenever it was needed." |
Police want to contact a mini-cab driver, believed to have been in a blue Ford Mondeo, who stopped at traffic lights near the scene of the fight at about 0100 BST on Saturday. | Police want to contact a mini-cab driver, believed to have been in a blue Ford Mondeo, who stopped at traffic lights near the scene of the fight at about 0100 BST on Saturday. |
Police believe his passenger, a white man, argued with him and "exchanged words" with Nilanthan and his friends who were standing nearby. | Police believe his passenger, a white man, argued with him and "exchanged words" with Nilanthan and his friends who were standing nearby. |
A Met Police spokeswoman said: "The suspect returned a little while later and was again involved in an exchange of words with Nilanthan and his friends, which resulted in the victim being injured." | A Met Police spokeswoman said: "The suspect returned a little while later and was again involved in an exchange of words with Nilanthan and his friends, which resulted in the victim being injured." |
Nilanthan was the 23rd teenager to be killed in a stabbing or a shooting in the capital this year. | Nilanthan was the 23rd teenager to be killed in a stabbing or a shooting in the capital this year. |