Boy, 16, is charged with homicide of 16-year-old Harry Pitman

A teenage boy has been charged with the homicide of 16-year-old Harry Pitman, who was knifed on the Primrose Hill fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

The teenager, who can also be 16, has additionally been charged with possessing an offensive weapon and can seem earlier than Highbury Magistrates’ Court in north London this morning.

Two youngsters who have been arrested on suspicion of his homicide stay in custody at present in a west London police station. 

Lisa Ramsarran, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS London Homicide Team, mentioned: ‘The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to cost a 16-year-old boy with homicide following the dying of Harry Pitman.

‘The 16-year-old, who can’t be named due to his age, can also be charged with possessing an offensive weapon.

‘Harry Pitman died after he was stabbed on Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve.

‘The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all involved that legal proceedings are lively and that the defendant has the suitable to a good trial.

‘It is extraordinarily necessary there must be no reporting, commentary or sharing of data on-line which may in any method prejudice these proceedings.’

Three youngsters, aged 15, 16 and 18, arrested over the homicide have been bailed pending additional investigation. 

Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan has beforehand mentioned he doesn’t consider there was a ‘racial or gang component’ to the tragedy.

He added at present: ‘This is a fast-paced investigation, and my workforce is working across the clock to establish these accountable. This is clearly a major growth, and we’re retaining Harry’s household knowledgeable.’ 

On Tuesday, Harry’s mom joined 100 mourners at a night vigil for her murdered son. 

Last evening Tottenham Hotspur followers payed tribute to him with a thousands-strong spherical of applause within the sixteenth minute workforce as they performed Burnley within the FA Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley followers have been urged to unite in a present of solidarity in opposition to knife crime in tonight’s FA Cup third spherical match at Spurs’ house floor.

Right-back Pedro Porro, who scored the only objective within the match that propelled the London facet into the following spherical, devoted the victory to the teenager, writing on-line: ‘Dedicating this win and my objective to you, Harry.’

Flanked by screens displaying a photograph of {the teenager} and the message ‘Rest in peace, Harry…#endknifecrime’ the 62,850 capability stadium rang out with the applause of hundreds.

Speaking earlier than the match occurred head coach Ange Postecoglou, a father of three boys, mentioned: ‘You do not even need to be fascinated with the circumstances of the household and once more the place we’re as a society … the truth that these items nonetheless occur like this and younger lives are misplaced for completely no cause. 

‘I could not even ponder the grief and the ache of what the household are going by.

‘I’ve all the time felt that soccer golf equipment are extra than simply the embodiment of what we do. In sport they’re an prolonged neighborhood and an prolonged household for folks.

‘If it even offers them the smallest crumb of consolation, then it is the least we will do and our followers can do.

‘It’s simply tragic and inconceivable that individuals and households nonetheless need to undergo this grief.’ 

Amanda Woolveridge was supported by eldest daughter Tayla, 19, and 18-year-old son Patrick in addition to her brother Terry Woolveridge, Harry’s uncle.

The household congregated at Downhills Park, 200 yards from their house in Tottenham.

On New Year’s Day, Tayla and Patrick paid tribute to their ‘mischievous and cheeky’ brother who ‘all the time stood up for what was proper’.

Fighting again tears, Tayla mentioned from their terrace home in Tottenham, north London: ‘It does not appear actual, I carry on anticipating him to come back by the entrance door. His dinner continues to be within the oven, mum cannot convey herself to take away it.

‘He was the center baby of 5. He has a youthful 4 yr outdated brother and a 5 yr outdated sister. We have not instructed them what’s occurred but, we do not know learn how to. Harry was my child brother, he was most good-looking boy you possibly can ever meet.

‘I keep in mind holding him in my arms for the primary time once I was barely three years outdated. Now he will not ever get to develop up.’

The dying, which reportedly occurred simply minutes earlier than midnight, made Harry no less than the seventeenth teenager brutally killed within the capital in 2023 – most of these cruelly taken away from their family members within the final yr had additionally been stabbed.

Tayla was referred to as ‘Errol’ by family members after a personality on a youngsters’s tv present he favored.

‘He would by no means reply to Harry at house – simply ”Errol” – it was mine, Harry and mum’s little joke,’ his sister added earlier than calling for his killer to be dropped at justice.

‘I hope whoever has executed this is aware of they have not simply taken a life, they’ve destroyed a complete household and neighborhood,’ Tayla mentioned.

‘I hope that thought eats away at them for the remainder of their life.’

Standing outdoors her household’s terraced house on a wise road, Tayla continued: ‘Harry might be mischievous and cheeky and he may actually wind me up at occasions.

‘But he did not have a nasty bone in his physique. He all the time stood up for what is true.

‘Although he did not have a girlfriend, he was a girls man, all the time chatting up women.

‘I used to be feeling down about spending New Years Eve alone and I occurred to take a look at my cellphone at 11.40pm. I do not know what made me take a look at my cellphone however an hour later, my brother Patrick referred to as and instructed me Harry had gone.

‘I’m devastated, he was my child brother. He did not even get to see the fireworks, which is why he went to Primrose Hill within the first place.’

Harry attended Wilbury Primary School in Edmonton and St Thomas More secondary faculty in Wood Green. He was additionally a Catholic and had his affirmation at St John Vianney in Harringay church final Easter.

More lately, he harboured desires of becoming a member of the military and becoming a member of the SAS.

Tayla added: ‘Our nice grandfather, George Davis, was a sergeant main within the second world battle. Harry wished to observe in his footsteps and be part of the Army. He wished to be on the frontline.’

Harry’s older brother Patrick, 18, mentioned his youthful sibling was an enormous Spurs fan and had gone to Primrose Hill with seven of his mates, together with his greatest good friend.

He mentioned: ‘I knew Harry higher than anybody. We shared a bed room for the very best a part of 16-years. I moved out of house final yr and Harry got here to stick with me for some time. In truth he stayed with me two nights in the past.

‘We performed video video games and talked about getting older. He will not get older now, somebody has taken his life away.

‘My most cherished reminiscence is each of us working into the pitch after a celeb charity soccer match on the London Stadium a couple of years in the past.

‘He was soccer loopy, he was born and bred in Tottenham so was a large Spurs fan.

‘He went to Wembley to see Spurs however by no means obtained the possibility to go to the brand new floor. We are all distraught, it simply does not appear actual.’