Woman charged with murder of ‘kind’ teenager stabbed to death

A WOMAN has been charged with the murder of a “well-mannered and kind” teenager stabbed to death in south-east London.

Levi Ernest-Morrison, 17, was found collapsed on the ground with a stab wound in Sydenham at around 7.20pm on Saturday.

Police and London’s air ambulance were called to the scene at the junction of Hazel Grove and Sydenham Road, however Levi was pronounced dead shortly after 8pm.

Nichola Leighton, 36, of Sydenham, is due to appear before Bromley Magistrates’ Court today accused of his murder.

Levi’s family are being supported by specialist officers but hit out at a video posted online purportedly showing him dying in the street.

His mother, who asked not to be named, fears her autistic son was killed in a case of mistaken identity.

She said yesterday: “He was waiting for his friends and he didn’t realise what his friends were doing.

“He was a beautiful boy with a beautiful heart.”

Levi is the tenth teenager to be fatally stabbed in London this year, already two-thirds of the 15 killed throughout 2020.

The Met have now launched 33 homicide investigations in 2021 despite the lockdown, one less than by April 14 last year.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Norman said: “We are appealing for anyone who was in the area on Saturday evening to come forward.”

Meanwhile, the condition of a 16-year-old boy stabbed in Green Lanes, north London, on Monday night has improved.

He was treated at the scene in Grand Parade for a wound to his stomach at 9pm, before being taken to hospital fighting for life.