Youth’s murder was ‘not racially motivated’
Police confirm there is no indication of a racial element to killing following speculation
THE killing of a 16-year-old boy on New Year’s Eve was “not racially motivated”, detectives have said, as his sister insisted that he had never been involved with gangs.
The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested two people on Tuesday evening in connection with the killing of Harry Pitman. The teenager, who was white, was stabbed in the neck on Primrose Hill incamden, north London, minutes before midnight on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Scotland Yard said a 15-year-old boy had been arrested on suspicion of murder and an 18-year-old man on suspicion of affray.
A 16-year-old who was previously arrested in connection with the incident has since been released on bail.
In a statement announcing the latest arrests, the Met said that there was no indication that the stabbing had been racially motivated.
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are aware of speculation, especially on social media, that the attack may have been racially motivated, and I can confirm that there is no indication of a racial motive
“Despite having made three arrests, I am still very keen to hear from anyone who has footage or information that could assist our investigation.
“Similarly, I would like to thank everyone who has come forward so far – the help that you have given makes a difference.”
Harry’s older sister Tayla said he “was not in any way, shape or form” involved with a gang, urging people to remember her “bubbly, smiling” brother as an “innocent hero, not a villain”.
In a video posted on social media, the 19-year-old said: “I am seeing a lot of things going around about Harry and how this is a gang-related thing, and the record needs to be set straight.
“Harry was not in any way, shape or form involved with any gangs or anyone who could cause trouble. He’s not ever been in trouble with the police. We are already grieving as it is, and now on top of that we have got people saying that our baby boy, who is a victim, an innocent victim, that his death was warranted because it was gang-related when it wasn’t, and I just don’t understand.
“Harry needs to be portrayed in the way he should be portrayed and that is as a good boy because that is what he was. He had a heart of gold. Please don’t let people make Harry out to be a villain, because he wasn’t – he was a hero.”
Her comments came after Harry’s grandfather, Derek Pitman, told The
Daily Telegraph he had long feared a member of his family could become an innocent victim of knife crime.
The 71-year-old said: “When we used to see reports of stabbings in Tottenham, or wherever, the first thing we thought was I hope that isn’t a member of my family because it could be any innocent bystander who gets stabbed these days.
“So every time we saw a stabbing we felt relieved when it wasn’t someone we knew. And it hadn’t been, until now.”
Mr Pitman said Harry had never been in trouble before and described him as “bubbly, full of joy and always with a smile on his face”.
A large crowd of people gathered for a vigil for Harry at Downhills Park in Tottenham on Tuesday, carrying flowers. Following a round of applause, balloons were released into the air.
His brother said he wanted Tottenham Hotspur fan Harry’s name to be chanted in the 16th minute of the next Tottenham match on Friday.
Harry’s murder took the number of teenagers killed in London last year to 22.
‘Harry was not in any way involved with any gangs. He’s not ever been in trouble with the police’ ‘Every time we saw a stabbing we felt relieved when it wasn’t someone we knew. And it hadn’t been, until now’