26

Nineteen year old Oliver Kingonzila was stabbed to death in Croydon, South East London, in the early hours of Saturday.

He is the 26th boy to be murdered in the capital this year; his death comes exactly two weeks after the fatal stabbing of 14 year old Shaquille Smith.

Oliver's story is grimmer than usual; his older brother died earlier this year of a heart attack, aged just 27. Oliver himself was a keen footballer, having been captain of the Barnet youth team. His manager called him "a gentle giant."

"He was bright-eyed, keen and eager to be a professional footballer. I remember on his first day of arrival he bashed around the first team players when we had a little game. Everyone stood back and was amazed by his power and strength and yet impressed by his gentle personality when he wasn't on the pitch."

Two 18-year-old boys have been arrested following Oliver's death.