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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Police investigate Facebook house party murder | Police investigate Facebook house party murder |
| (25 days later) | |
| Detectives are questioning four teenagers over the murder of an A-level student who was stabbed to death outside an Essex house party advertised on Facebook. | Detectives are questioning four teenagers over the murder of an A-level student who was stabbed to death outside an Essex house party advertised on Facebook. |
| Jay Whiston, 17, was knifed on Saturday night at a gathering attended by about 100 teenagers in the affluent Lexden area of Colchester. | Jay Whiston, 17, was knifed on Saturday night at a gathering attended by about 100 teenagers in the affluent Lexden area of Colchester. |
| It is believed details of the event were circulated on the social networking site, but that a number of uninvited guests turned up. | It is believed details of the event were circulated on the social networking site, but that a number of uninvited guests turned up. |
| Jay, of Clacton, was stabbed at around 10pm and taken to Colchester general hospital with abdominal injuries but died shortly afterwards. A provisional postmortem examination showed he died from a stab wound. | Jay, of Clacton, was stabbed at around 10pm and taken to Colchester general hospital with abdominal injuries but died shortly afterwards. A provisional postmortem examination showed he died from a stab wound. |
| Two 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men, all from Colchester, are being questioned on suspicion of murder. | Two 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men, all from Colchester, are being questioned on suspicion of murder. |
| The victim's mother, Caroline Shearer, 46, said her son was trying to protect a friend when he was attacked. | The victim's mother, Caroline Shearer, 46, said her son was trying to protect a friend when he was attacked. |
| "It's every mother's worst nightmare. He was loved by everyone and so caring," she said. "My son had never been in trouble with the police before. He hated bullies and hated people being unfair. | "It's every mother's worst nightmare. He was loved by everyone and so caring," she said. "My son had never been in trouble with the police before. He hated bullies and hated people being unfair. |
| "I still feel numb but I'm starting to feel angry now. How can thugs ruin innocent lives at their will? There's no rhyme or reason to it." | "I still feel numb but I'm starting to feel angry now. How can thugs ruin innocent lives at their will? There's no rhyme or reason to it." |
| Jay, who studied law and business studies at Tendring Technology College, planned to go to university next year. | Jay, who studied law and business studies at Tendring Technology College, planned to go to university next year. |
| Detectives from Essex police said every teenager at the party in Marlowe Way was a potential key witness. | Detectives from Essex police said every teenager at the party in Marlowe Way was a potential key witness. |
| The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Simon Parkes, said: "This really is a tragic loss of life that we, but more importantly, this boy's parents have to deal with. | The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Simon Parkes, said: "This really is a tragic loss of life that we, but more importantly, this boy's parents have to deal with. |
| "This murder took place in an affluent area of Colchester and at a house party which had a garden that could cater for the 100 or so teenagers that were present. | "This murder took place in an affluent area of Colchester and at a house party which had a garden that could cater for the 100 or so teenagers that were present. |
| "Although we don't yet know the details of what went on, we're slowly piecing together the sequence of events that led to this boy's death. We're speaking to those who were at the party, but we're mindful that there may have been others who left either before the stabbing or in the immediate aftermath before we arrived. | "Although we don't yet know the details of what went on, we're slowly piecing together the sequence of events that led to this boy's death. We're speaking to those who were at the party, but we're mindful that there may have been others who left either before the stabbing or in the immediate aftermath before we arrived. |
| "Everyone at this party is a key witness whether they saw anything or not and we would urge them to contact us." | "Everyone at this party is a key witness whether they saw anything or not and we would urge them to contact us." |
| The killing has shocked neighbours in the quiet residential street. A number of homes were sealed off as police searched for clues on Sunday. Empty bottles of vodka and cans of lager could be seen strewn across the front gardens of properties in the street. | The killing has shocked neighbours in the quiet residential street. A number of homes were sealed off as police searched for clues on Sunday. Empty bottles of vodka and cans of lager could be seen strewn across the front gardens of properties in the street. |
| Marie Partner said a woman and her teenage daughter, who were hosting the party, had spoken to neighbours to apologise in advance for any extra noise. | Marie Partner said a woman and her teenage daughter, who were hosting the party, had spoken to neighbours to apologise in advance for any extra noise. |
| Partner said: "The mother and daughter took it upon themselves to tell the neighbours there was a party taking place and to apologise in advance if there was slightly more noise than normal. | Partner said: "The mother and daughter took it upon themselves to tell the neighbours there was a party taking place and to apologise in advance if there was slightly more noise than normal. |
| "It's so sad. The first I knew about it was seeing the police arrive and the area being cordoned off." | "It's so sad. The first I knew about it was seeing the police arrive and the area being cordoned off." |
| Another neighbour described witnessing "scores of young people" outside his home on Saturday night but said big gatherings of teenagers in the street were rare. | Another neighbour described witnessing "scores of young people" outside his home on Saturday night but said big gatherings of teenagers in the street were rare. |
| Floral tributes and cards have been laid at the scene, with messages of condolence left on Twitter and Facebook. | Floral tributes and cards have been laid at the scene, with messages of condolence left on Twitter and Facebook. |
| One message left near the house where the party was held read: "Words can't explain it Jay but our thoughts are with you. God bless." | One message left near the house where the party was held read: "Words can't explain it Jay but our thoughts are with you. God bless." |
| Another read: "RIP Jay. You were a great guy, friend and colleague. You will be dearly missed." | Another read: "RIP Jay. You were a great guy, friend and colleague. You will be dearly missed." |
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