Jodie Chesney murder: Killer stabbed girl, 17, in the back and then ran off

A suspect thought to be in his late teens stabbed Jodie once before he and another male ran off, police say.

Jodie Chesney, 17, was stabbed to death

Image:Jodie Chesney, 17, was stabbed to death

The moment 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was fatally stabbed in the back in an east London park has been described by police.
She was playing music with five of her friends in Harold Hill, Romford, Scotland Yard said in an update.
Two males who were in the park at the same time, but did not interact with Jodie's group, left at about 9pm.
They returned around half an hour later and walked straight towards the group where one of the males stabbed Jodie once in the back.
They then ran off without saying anything, police said.

Family and friends visit the area where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was killed, at the Saint Neots Play Park in Harold Hill, east London, Britain March 3, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image:Family and friends visit the area where Jodie was killed
She died from trauma and haemorrhage, a post-mortem examination has found.
The suspect who attacked Jodie is described as a black male aged in his late teens.
There are no arrests as yet.

People visit the area near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was killed, at the Saint Neots Play Park in Harold Hill, east London, Britain March 3, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image:Jodie's friends went to the scene of the stabbing
The detective leading the investigation, DCI Dave Whellams, said that while a number of people had come forward, "there will be other witnesses and people with information that may prove crucial".
He added: "Although the description of the suspect is limited, I am certain that people will have seen the two males hanging around the park or running away from the scene - or will otherwise have noticed something suspicious.
"I need those people to call me."
Jodie was the 18th person to be killed in London this year and the first victim to be a first teenage girl.

Jodie Chesney was named as the victim by her grandmother.
Image:Jodie was killed in an 'unprovoked attack'
One of Jodie's friends at college, 18-year-old Lucy Elkin, said the attack was "unprovoked".
"There's no justification of any sort for something like this," Ms Elkin told Sky News.
Describing Jodie as "pure and innocent", Ms Elkin said it "shouldn't have happened".
" It was unprovoked. She didn't deserve it."
Jodie's friends did not know who had carried out the stabbing, she added.

Jodie Chesney and her boyfriend Eddie Coyle. Pic: Facebook
Image:Jodie Chesney and her boyfriend Eddie Coyle. Pic: Facebook
A witness told Sky News she heard arguing and a "disturbing" scream before police were called by paramedics to the area - known as Amy's Park - at 9.25pm on Friday and found Jodie with a stab injury.
Cries of "help me" were also heard before she was pronounced dead shortly after 10.25pm.
Krystle Pasha, who lives close to the scene of the stabbing, told Sky News: "I heard a lot of loud arguing, a lot of loud noise, shouting, followed by a really loud scream.
"The scream was very disturbing to hear. Then I heard someone shouting out; 'Help me, help me'."

Jodie Chesney pictured outside 10 Downing Street four months ago
Image:Jodie pictured outside 10 Downing Street four months ago
Jodie was reportedly cradled by her boyfriend Eddie Coyle while she lay dying as he urged her to "please, stay awake".
Miss Elkin's boyfriend, who declined to be named, was also friends with Jodie and said the killer "needs to be found and brought to justice".
"They stabbed her in the back when she was sat on a bench," he told Sky News.
"There was no reason they would have been targeted. They didn't even know who they stabbed."

Family and friends visit the area where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was killed, at the Saint Neots Play Park in Harold Hill, east London, Britain March 3, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image:Friends of the 17-year-old broke down in tears when they visited the park
Jodie celebrated her father's birthday on Friday, sharing a photo on Instagram with the caption "happy birthday dad" alongside a smiley face and a love heart.
She had visited Downing Street with the Scouts in November and posed for a picture with members of her troop outside the front door of Number 10.
Jodie's family have urged anyone with information about the killing to come forward.
Writing on Facebook, Jodie's grandmother Debbie Chesney said: "How have we come to this point where kids can't have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack?"

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