Jay Sewell death: Family’s tribute to stabbed teen as number of killings hits near-decade high

The family of the latest teenager stabbed to death in London spoke of their trauma today as the capital’s homicide rate reached a near-decade high.

Jay Sewell, 18, was attacked as youths armed with baseball bats and knives descended on a residential street in Lee on Tuesday night.

He was driven to hospital by friends but pronounced dead at 10.30pm, about 40 minutes after police were called to the scene in Alwold Crescent. Another victim, also 18, was treated for stab injuries but was later discharged.

Jay’s death came four days after 18-year-old Aron Warren was fatally stabbed in Greenwich. Today a 16-year-old boy was being interviewed on suspicion of murder in an east London police station after his arrest yesterday.

The latest killings took the total number of homicides in London in 2018 to 131, the highest in a calendar year since 2009. Just over a third of victims were aged between 16 and 24, and 24 have been teenagers.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to “drastically improve” the city’s approach to tackling the root causes of violence. Steve O’Connell, Tory chair of the London Assembly police and crime committee, said the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit needed to deliver “real change”. He said: “Londoners are heartbroken to hear about the near daily carnage on our streets.”

Mr Sewell’s grandmother Brenda, 77, today paid tribute to the teenager, saying he was the “most wonderful grandson I could have asked for”.

Fighting back tears, the retired carer told the Standard: “I can’t describe how this feels. I only know him as a lovely boy and a wonderful child. He was well-liked by his friends. They used to say he was their smashing mate, a lovely guy. He only packed up school a year ago.”

Mr Sewell’s uncle, who lives in Welling, added: “He was loved by everyone. We thought the world of him. We’re devastated.” Five people, including a man and a woman in their fifties, were today being questioned by police over the murder of Mr Sewell, a former pupil at Bexleyheath Academy.

The stabbing came after neighbours reported seeing armed youths brawling in the street just before 10pm. One said: “There were riot police out with shields and dogs. They stormed this one house and arrested this entire family.

“The mum was in a dressing gown, the dad was in a vest and pants. They loaded them into the van along with their son. Everyone was swearing at police.”

The Prince of Wales also spoke out against knife crime yesterday, saying: “Enough is enough... there must be better ways if we’re going to prevent all these appalling tragedies happening to so many people’s families.”

Detectives continued to appeal for witnesses to Mr Sewell’s death today. DCI Simon Harding said: “We have spoken to a number of people, but we would like to hear from anyone who lives near the scene who saw anything that might assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8721 4205, or Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.