Grieving dad pleads with youth to 'put down knives'

A grieving father of a 16-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed has urged young people to "put down knives" and learn from the tragedy.

Baye Bireme Fall died after an incident in Riseholme near the Ortongate Shopping Centre in Peterborough just before 19:00 BST on 12 April.

A peace event was held in his memory on Saturday evening, with hundreds of people coming together to pay tribute and call for an end to knife violence.

A translator speaking on behalf of the victim's father, Khalifa Fall, said: "His appeal to all Baye's friends is to learn from what has happened to him", adding that no parent should have to bury a child.

The translator continued: "Be more responsible, listen to your parents more, be more vigilant. If any of you carry any weapon - please put it down."

Fall welcomed everybody who "came to show solidarity" and said a "massive thank you" as the family had "not been left alone to suffer at this difficult time".

He asked the younger generation to educate themselves and "put violence down".

"He is having to do something no parent should have to do - that is, bury their own child," the translator said.

They continued: "He doesn't want the kids to take it into their own hands. He said the family have a lot of faith in the justice system and justice will be served."

The message was received by a round of applause and cheers of "amen" from the crowd.

Dozens of people, including community leaders, local politicians and MP Sam Carling, spoke at the event.

Friends described Baye as "lovely, kind and helpful", adding that he aspired to be a lawyer.

His best friend, Augustus, 17, said he was "the most loyal and outstanding person".

His uncle said the family was "heartbroken" and urged young people to "think before carrying a knife".

He said: "A knife doesn't make you strong, doesn't protect you. It can take a life in a second and leave the whole family suffering. It only brings regrets.

"He had a whole life ahead of him, and it's painful to know he will never come back home to us.

"We are here today to honour his life and remind young people to put the knives down and choose peace."

Darren Foster runs Peterborough Lions FC and also works with the Roots and Rise hub in Queensgate Shopping Centre, which offers a safe space for young people to come together.

He said: "We have got to solve this [knife crime] problem, it's getting too serious now, and I feel it's getting brushed under the carpet.

"There are a lot of intelligent, talented and wise people who are getting a little astray.

"We need community leaders to guide them and lead them on the right path. We don't want to see such scenes in Peterborough again or any other city."

Two people - Emidas Krutkevicius, 18, from Garton End Road, Peterborough, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons - have since been charged with murder and are due to enter pleas at Cambridge Crown Court on 19 May.

A 16-year-old girl from March, Cambridgeshire, has also been charged with possessing a knife/bladed article in a public place and is due to appear at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court on 13 May.

She and a 17-year-old girl were further arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they remain on conditional bail for that offence.

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