Jodie Chesney death: Family of stab victim call for tougher sentences for knife crime

Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death in a park in east London

The family of murdered Jodie Chesney today called for tougher sentences for knife crime offenders as they told of their devastation at the teenager’s killing.

Explorer Scout Jodie, 17, became the 18th person to be murdered in London this year when she was stabbed in the back in a random and unprovoked attack while sitting with friends in a park in Romford on Friday.

Today her family said the government must increase jail times for anyone caught carrying a knife in order to act as a deterrent, as they urged her killer to hand himself in out of “decency”.

Relative Karen Chesney called on people to lobby the government to ensure that those convicted receive a minimum of 10 years behind bars, while those who actually attack receive at least 25 years in jail.

Tributes laid in Harold Hill after the fatal stabbing 
PA

An online petition supported by the family had today been signed more than 31,000 times, as she told how the teenager’s murder had not “sunk in with any of us yet”.

Police say the teenage killer and an accomplice were spotted watching the five friends, who were socialising in a playground in Harold Hill.

People lay floral tributes near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was killed
REUTERS

The duo left but returned at 9.30pm wearing balaclavas and one of them stabbed Jodie once in the back, without saying a word.

The apparently motiveless nature of the killing has led to speculation that it might have been a gang initiation rite.

Friends from Havering Sixth Form College said Jodie had no enemies and suggested she could be the victim of mistaken identity.

Jodie’s grandmother, Debbie Chesney, added that the days since Friday night’s killing had been a “nightmare”.

She said the family “still can’t believe it” and urged anyone who knew who was responsible to come forward.

Friends and family pay tribute near to the scene of the fatal stabbing 
REUTERS

She said: “We are still in shock at the moment. We just hope the police can find the culprit.

“It is happening far too many times now. Somebody out there knows who did this. We are all shattered, especially her poor father Peter.”

Stab victim: Jodie Chesney outside 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform in November last year

She added: “I just hope that they catch the boy who did it. Please just share the post in the hopes that the boy who did this or his friends or family have the decency to tell the police who he is.”

The family spoke out amid growing political pressure to tackle the scourge of knife crime in London.

Jodie’s father Peter Chesney, 39, and stepmother Joanna Chesney, 36, yesterday visited the murder scene and spoke to Teresa Farenden, a first-aider who tried to stem their daughter’s bleeding.

Ms Farenden, 49, said: “They were so grateful, but it was just a mother’s instinct to try and save her life.

“Jodie was a beautiful young girl. She just couldn’t hold on. There are no words to express the devastation I feel.”

Detective chief superintendent Shabnam Chaudhri, of the Met Police, admitted police “don’t have any idea” why Jodie was attacked, and said they were “focusing totally” on gathering witness evidence to hunt her killer.

Meanwhile an online fundraising page to pay for Jodie’s funeral had today reached nearly £8,000.

Anyone with information that could help the police should call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.​

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