Family tribute to stabbed teenager

1:32pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

The family of stabbed 14-year-old Shaquille Smith said that the teenager will "always be in our hearts".

The youngster died after being stabbed in the stomach in St Thomas's Place in Hackney, east London, on Saturday.

His sister, Tahira, 16, also suffered knife wounds in the attack and needed hospital treatment.

Residents described seeing a group of around 15 youths on bikes ride up and attack Shaquille as he sat on a bench in a small park in front of his house.

The Metropolitan Police arrested a male in his late teens over the murder in east London.

In a statement his family said that Shaquille was devoted to his baby sister and had ambitions to live and work in Jamaica.

His mother said: "For 13 years, Shaquille was the youngest of my four children, until I had his baby sister a year ago. He wanted a boy, so that he could play football with him. When he had a baby sister he was mesmerised by her, and being the big brother she became the focus of his life."

"Shaquille loved life and his family, including those in Jamaica. He spent his young years growing up with his grandmother and other family members.

"Shaquille loved Jamaica, which he travelled to on a regular basis. He pleaded with me on a regular basis to let him live in Jamaica. When I asked him why he preferred Jamaica, he replied 'all my friends and family are on the same road, and I don't have to travel to see people. I feel free'."