'He was a true angel': EastEnders star's tribute to murdered brother as she begs for end to knife epidemic - police looking for four Black youths....

A former EastEnders star today paid an emotional tribute to her younger brother after he was stabbed to death and called for the spate of teenage murders to end.

Brooke Kinsella, who played Kelly Taylor in the soap, described her brother, Ben, as a 'true angel' before begging schoolchildren to lay down their weapons and think about the 'pain and suffering' they cause.

At a police press conference, her voice cracked with emotion as she declared it was time to take a stand and end the violence once-and-for-all after the 16-year-old was killed early yesterday morning while he was out celebrating the end of his GCSEs.

Reading out a brief statement as she strained to hold back tears, she said: 'Yesterday we tragically lost not only a beautiful son and brother but a true angel.

'Ben really was one of the kindest, gentlest and talented boys God has ever created.

'He had a heart of gold and the love and joy he gave to everybody is proven by the vast number of people who have sent their condolences and prayers.'

Ben's death on Sunday morning takes the total number of teenagers killed in the capital so far this year to 17.

He was stabbed to death by four different knives as he desperately phoned a friend for help after running away from a gang following a row in a club.

The 24-year-old actress added: 'Ben was the 17th teenager to be killed in London this year.

'Our hearts go out to every family who has also suffered this awful tragedy.

'Now it truly is the time to stand up and put an end to this. Please, please let us learn from Ben and every other child that has been stolen from us.

'We always knew that Ben would make a special mark on this world and, although it is in the worst possible circumstances, hopefully he will be the one that finally puts an end to this.

'My family are determined to fight in his memory to make the streets safer for our children.

'Please, boys and girls, put down your knives and weapons and think about the pain and suffering they will cause.

'Parents, please talk to your children and encourage them to stop all this violence. Please can we waste no more time and come together as a country and ensure no other lives are wasted.'

 

Heartbroken: Brooke with the rest of her family at the press conference. From left, sisters Georgia, 14 and Jade, 22, and parents Deborah and George

Holding hands: Brooke and Georgia in tears at today's press conference

Ben was out with friends celebrating the end of his exams when a row broke out with youths in a pub near his family's £2million home in Islington, North London.

As the 2am argument spilled outside the Shillibeers Bar into a brawl involving up to 50 teenagers, Ben and his friend were ambushed by a group lying in wait for them.

The 16-year-old fled up the road chased by a gang of black youths but did not manage to escape.

David Dugdale, the friend he called, said: 'He was running and he rang me and just said, "Help me, help me", then the phone went dead, and that was it.

'He sounded petrified. I wish I could have helped him.'

Another friend heard someone shout, 'Get him' during the clash.

The teenager was knifed in the neck and chest, possibly by four separate attackers, and died later in hospital.

Detective Superintendent Vic Rae, who sat alongside Miss Kinsella at today's press conference, said: 'At this moment in time we believe there were four Black males involved in the stabbing.