The killer of a schoolboy who was followed home and stabbed to death is being urged to 'clear their conscience' - six months on from the tragedy. Ten teenagers - now between the ages of 13 and 18 - remain under investigation following the death of Kennie Carter, 16, in Stretford on Saturday, January 22.
Police have spoken to more than 80 people since that day, trawled 100 hours of CCTV footage and executed more than 20 warrants. A total of 14 youths have been arrested during the course of the investigation - but a charge is still yet to be made.
Now, on the eve of the six-month anniversary of Kennie's death, detectives are again urging anyone who knows what happened to come forward - so his family can finally begin to get closure. Detective Chief Inspector Alicia Smith, from Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team, said: "I can't even begin to think what they're actually going through. It's been a really, really difficult time for them and for the investigation."
READ MORE: Tragic teen at centre of murder investigation died after being stabbed in chest, inquest hears
She added: "We need people to come forward, we need people to tell us what exactly happened. I know that there are people out there who know exactly what happened that night.
"There are people out there who have had conversations with those involved who know exactly what happened that night and we need those people to come forward and speak to us. With murder investigations, they don't go away.
"They will not go away whether it's two years down the line, five years, 10 years, 20 years - a murder investigation will never be closed. So we will never get closure for the family and get the justice that the family need for Kennie until people come forward and speak to us."
Schoolboy Kennie died in hospital after suffering a fatal wound to the chest in a stabbing which took place close to where he lived, on Stretford's Lakes Estate. It's believed the youngster had left home on the evening of January 22 to go out for some food with his friends.
On the previous night, a fight had taken place in Stretford between two rival groups, including one which is understood to have included some of Kennie's friends - but not Kennie himself. Police believe members of the rival group returned to Stretford on January 22 to seek revenge on his friends, but the youngster ended up being followed home and stabbed at around 7pm.
"We know that Kennie was friends with a certain group of people and that the night before Kennie's murder there was an incident," said DCI Smith. "On the night of the murder, we know that there was a group of youths that travelled to the area - not looking for Kennie, that wasn't the issue.
"Kennie realised that there was something happening and what he did was absolutely the right thing and he made his way home, or he was trying to make his way home. That's at the point where we know he was on his own, then he was spotted and he was chased, and that's when he was attacked."
All those arrested in connection with Kennie's death are teenagers - and none above the age of 17. The brutal nature of Kennie's killing, believed to have been carried out by a child, sent shockwaves through the community.
"It's been very difficult," said DCI Smith. "You don't think that children - which they are - would be involved in something so serious. It's been devastating for the family and also for the wider community.
"It's a real shock that youths - literally - are involved in something so serious which can have such devastating effects and impact not only on a family but on a community, and they don't realise that." She added: "For quite a while now there has been a culture of knife crime, carrying knives, and I don't think that actually a lot of the youths realise how a split-second decision can impact and change somebody's life."
Because so many people have been arrested in connection with Kennie's death, his family say there is a misconception among some that charges have already been made. But while 10 teenagers remain under investigation, Kennie's family are still a long way from securing justice, with police still in need of vital information.
Joan Dixon, Kennie's mum, told the M.E.N: "Somebody's got to do the right thing. Parents, just talk to your children and get them to do the right thing. If it was on the other foot and it was them, they'd want the right thing doing.
"It's not about grassing, a child has been murdered. He hasn't passed through an illness or something we've had chance to get used to. He was there one minute and he's been taken the next minute. It's just been sheer hell, it's been horrible."
DCI Smith added: "I would say to [those who know what happened] - clear your conscience. Come forward, because this will not go away, murder investigations will not get closed. So clear your conscience, do the right thing."
Any information - no matter how insignificant it may seem - can be passed on to GMP by calling 0161 856 9908, quoting incident number 2529 of January 22, 2022, or use the online portal here. Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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