Camden News - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS Published: 24 July 2008
Mourners at Friday’s funeral on Friday
Farewell to Ben, ‘a beautiful star’
MORE than 1,000 mourners – many wearing day-glo sunglasses and colourful clothes – paid their last respects to schoolboy Ben Kinsella on Friday. Ben, 16, was stabbed in York Way last month while trying to run away from trouble at a Holloway nightspot.
After weeks of peace marches and vigils, friends and relatives remembered him in happier times at the funeral service at St John the Evangelist Church in Angel, which was followed by a private ceremony at St Pancras Cemetery in East Finchley.
In a heartbreaking card, Ben’s sister, EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, wrote: “Benjamina I love you – you were a beautiful star & now you will shine even brighter. I miss you so much. I love you even more. B x.” EastEnders stars Gillian Taylforth and Michelle Ryan attended the funeral.
Father Jim Kennedy called on the community not to let Ben’s pointless killing be in vain. “I want everyone to make a commitment to Ben that we will try to change the world,” he said.
Ben’s purple coffin, decorated with a gold K, was carried out of the church to the Calvin Harris tune Girls.
Juress Kika, 18, Michael Alleyne, 18, and Jade Braithwaite, 19, are due to appear at the Old Bailey in October charged with Ben’s murder.