Tributes to Sydenham murder victim - as community leaders appeal for calm

Witnesses claim the 18-year-old was chased into the high street at midday on June 1 before a teenage girl was urged to stab him.

He was knifed several times outside the Co-Op supermarket and died from his injuries early the following morning. A 16-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed, while police also arrested a 21-year-old man yesterday.

Friends and family have continued to lay flowers at the scene. One card read: "Nathan, I love you so much. I miss you so much. I wish you were here with me."

Another read: "I'm sorry that we (the people) didn't rise up against the inequality of our time soon enough for you to benefit.

"You deserved more from us. Every life matters."

The murder came after a stabbing at a Hither Green birthday party at the weekend which led to a stand off between around 50 youths and police on the streets of Lewisham. Shockingly, yesterday an armed bank robbery took place just yards from the scene.

Ex-councillor Duwayne Brooks, a pal of murdered teen Stephen Lawrence, said he was surprised there had been no comment from the council since the murder.

He said: "This is a murder in Lewisham in broad daylight on one of the busiest high streets in Lewisham and we haven't heard any word from the council.

"Are you looking to stamp this out or are you waiting for reprisals before we start to do something in Lewisham?

"We've got a cabinet member for community safety but they haven't said anything. Where's the leadership in this borough?"

Mr Brooks, who stood for Mayor of Lewisham on behalf of the Lib Dems last year, claiming he would invite the borough's gangsters in for a sit down meeting to solve violent crime, said: "I want to urge calm.

"I don't want  there to be reprisals, I don't want further people hurt."

Meanwhile Leila Thomas, founder of Urban Synergy who work in all Lewisham schools taking role model seminars said: "I don’t think they understand the consequences of their actions so it’s important we look at how to prevent this.

"The reason why I set this up in the beginning was because of knife crime and murder. I can’t believe no-one has come forward to say something on this.

"People are losing their lives and they don’t understand their actions. We are losing people to the streets and no-one is doing anything about it. Someone needs to stand up and say something."

In response to Mr Brooks, cabinet member Councillor Janet Daby said: "This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the victim’s family at this time. We are providing our full support to the police in their investigation and work to reassure the local community."

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating.

Anyone with information should call the Incident Room on 0208 721 4961 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.