Jodie was a beautiful young girl.It must stop
MURDERED Scout Jodie Chesney’s family have met and thanked the woman who tried to save their girl’s life.
Dad Peter Chesney, 39, and stepmum Joanne, 36, made their first visit to the scene where Jodie, 17, was stabbed in the back by an unknown assailant.
There they spoke to Teresa Farenden, 49, who ran into the park after her son heard screams on Friday.
She tried to stem the bleeding as Jodie lay with part of the blade still in her by a playground in Harold Hill, Romford, East London.
Brave Teresa 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.” Backing the Mirror’s campaign for stronger government action to tackle the knife epidemic, Teresa added: “Why do they need knives? This has to stop.” Jodie’s relatives called on anyone who knows the attacker to come forward. Grandmother Debbie Chesney said: “We need to find the culprit to be sure what the reason was. “Please if anyone knows anything, tell the police. “We are all shattered, especially her poor father.” Jodie was stabbed hours after celebrating her dad’s birthday. In the park, Peter, Joanne and Debbie hugged and cried with Jodie’s sister Lucy, 21, as they looked over the sea of flowers left by relatives and pals, including Jodie’s boyfriend. Eddie Coyle, 18, was with Jodie and
four other friends listening to music in what’s known locally as Amy’s Park.
Two masked and hooded youths were reported loitering there.
Half an hour after they were first spotted, one returned and murdered Jodie in a seemingly random and motiveless killing. The suspect is described as black and in his late teens.
Met Police Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams said: “Although the description of the suspect is limited, I am certain 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.”
Peter and Joanne visited the day after Jodie’s tearful mum Claire Gillham, 39, came
HELP Neighbour Teresa to the park, where scores gathered to remember the much-loved Explorer Scout, who raised money for charities and visited No10. Yesterday forensic officers with electric saws removed a table at the scene.
One school friend at the park said: “Jodie used to help with charities. She had no enemies, she was friends
with everyone, really friendly, we got the same train together and we used to talk. I am so horrified with what happened, it is so disgusting.”
Paul Wakeling, Jodie’s principal at Havering Sixth Form, said: “Jodie was an excellent, hard-working and focused student and her loss is devastating to staff and students.”
Jodie’s distraught cousin Mark Lotter, 20, joined calls for urgent action.
The former hairdresser said: “Enough is enough. The Government has to do something. We need more police and tougher sentences.
“She had her whole life ahead of her. She loved make-up and theatre. She loved art. Her life has gone.
“She’s never going to be able to have a family, she’s never going to have kids.
“She’s never going to settle down and get married.”