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Stabbed London teen was ambushed
A London teenager stabbed to death following an end-of-year school party was ambushed in the street, it was revealed on Monday.
- Evening Standard
- Published: 23:37 June 30, 2008
London: A London teenager stabbed to death following an end-of-year school party was ambushed in the street, it was revealed on Monday.
Ben Kinsella, 16, was knifed four times in the neck and chest, possibly by four different attackers, during a mass brawl. Ben, brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, and his friends were walking from the party in Islington when they were confronted by another group of youths who had waited for them in the early hours of Sunday.
Ben made a terrified phone call to a friend as he was being chased. The friend said he heard Ben pleading "help me, help me" before the phone went dead.
Another friend heard someone shout "get him" during the clash which is said to have involved about 50 youths.
Ben, a class prefect and aspiring actor described as a "straight A student", is the 17th teenager to be murdered in London this year, 12 of whom were victims of knife attacks.
The spot where Ben died in York Way near the junction with North Road in Islington was covered with more than 100 bouquets, balloons, an Arsenal scarf and an England flag.
His family, including father George, a taxi driver, and mother Debbie, who live nearby, laid flowers there yesterday. Brooke on Monday pulled out of the play Torn at the Arcola theatre in Dalston.
Ben, who was celebrating the end of his General Certificates of Secondary Education with classmates from Holloway School, arrived at Shillibeers bar in Carpenters Mews, Islington, to meet a group of girls.
Despite the venue being for over-18s only, they were allowed in, but not before trouble flared following an argument with a group of four other youths who were refused entry.
One girl, who went to Holloway School with Ben, said the group who were not allowed in had waited outside the pub after everyone spilled on to the street at closing time, at around 2am.
She said: "All the lads were meant to meet at Shillibeers for a quick drink. These other boys were saying, 'Get us in, get us in' but they got refused, while Ben and everyone went inside.
"When the party was over everyone came out to get more drinks from the off-licence but it was closed. As they walked back up the road the youths were still there. That's when it kicked off and escalated. They stabbed him and left him for dead."
Because the youths who attacked Ben were black, police are looking at the possibility that it was racially motivated.
Close friend David Dugdale told how Ben called him as he was being chased. He said: "He just said, 'Help me, help me', then the phone went dead. He sounded petrified."
Another friend told of the moment Ben was stabbed. He said: "Ben had run away but he was chased. I heard someone shout, 'Get him, get him', then he was stabbed. There was blood everywhere."
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