The family of a 21-year-old man fatally stabbed in a busy park in broad daylight have described him as a “kind soul” with “a smile that would brighten up a room” as two teenagers appeared in court charged with his murder.
Radwan Shakur, from Wembley, London, was found with fatal stab wounds in Central Park, Chelmsford, on Friday afternoon. Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a serious assault but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Two teenagers charged with murder after Radwan Shakur, 21, was fatally stabbed in Chelmsford's Central Park.”
On Monday, Romeo Mfinda, 18, of Widford Chase, and a 17-year-old boy from Chelmsford who cannot be named for legal reasons, were due before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court charged with murder, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of a knife in a public place.
The charges follow a weekend of intensive investigation by Essex Police. Three teenagers – aged 18, 17 and 14 – were initially arrested from an address in Auckland Close on suspicion of murder. After questioning, the 18-year-old was released on bail, and the 14-year-old was released under investigation as enquiries continue.
Further enquiries over the weekend identified another suspect, leading to the arrest of a second 18-year-old from an address in Widford Chase on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement released through police, Radwan’s family said: “Radwan was a kind soul loved by his family and everyone that knew him. He had a smile that would brighten up a room. He had such hopes and dreams for his future. He was looking forward to going to university and the bright future ahead. Our hearts are truly broken. We will miss him.”
Detective Inspector Lydia George, who is leading the investigation, described the attack as “a shocking incident in a busy public park at a time when many people would have been enjoying the area”. She said it had caused “significant concern within the Chelmsford community”.
“Since Friday evening, detectives and specialist officers have been working around the clock to establish what happened,” George added. “We have made significant progress through CCTV enquiries, speaking to witnesses and carrying out forensic work, which has led to these charges. However, our investigation remains ongoing and we continue to urge anyone with information who has not yet come forward to contact us.”