A 'DEVASTATED' teacher has paid tribute to a man who was stabbed to death on Monday.

Nicholas Venn was murdered at an address in Bardsley Lane, Greenwich, at around 3.45am on September 3.

The 34-year-old, of Bardsley House, Bardsley Lane, was pronounced dead at Lewisham Hospital half an hour later.

Colin Crook, who had known Mr Venn since 1976, shared his memories with News Shopper.

Mr Crook said: "I went to school with his sister, Karen, and we all grew up on Woolwich Common.

"As we reached a certain age, Nicky started getting into hip-hop, he lived for it, he loved it."

According to the 36-year-old, Mr Venn was close friends with Eltham teenager Stephen Lawrence before his murder in 1993.

Mr Crook, who works at the Meridian Music Centre in Greenwich, where he teaches music business studies and studio engineering, said: "He used to come round to my house and bring Stephen and other friends.

"We'd listen to music, that sort of thing.

"After the murder he helped set up events at Greenwich University for Stephen and worked with anti-racism organisations.

"He began working for a record label in 1995 and we started to produce albums together, including one called Rap Archives Legends."

Mr Venn also worked with Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood and in 2000, joined Mr Crook and three other partners in opening a studio in east London where they produced other artist's music.

Mr Crook, of Marion Road, Charlton, added: "I last saw him April or May and we were going to hook up again just before he died.

"When I heard, I was devastated, I just couldn't believe it.

"Me and his close friends have been in shock since it happened. It still hasn't sunk in, he was so young.

"I felt like he was a younger brother to me."

Mr Venn, who is thought to leave behind a five-year-old daughter, was teaching DJ skills in Greenwich at the time of his death.

  • Galliene Young, aged 35, also of Bardsley House, Bardsley Lane, appeared in Greenwich Magistrates' Court last week, charged with Mr Venn's murder.

She was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on December 13.

  • If you knew Mr Venn and would like to post a tribute, add your comments below.