Jodie Chesney: Police launch manhunt for killer after 17-year-old girl stabbed to death in park

Appeal for witnesses after schoolgirl is killed in 'unprovoked attack'

(Metropolitan Police)

Homicide detectives searching for the killer of a 17-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in a London park are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Jodie Chesney, an A-level student, was attacked on Friday night on St Neot’s Road in Harold Hill, Romford and died at the scene shortly afterwards.

The schoolgirl was the fifth teenager to be stabbed to death in the capital this year. A total of 24 teenagers were murdered in London last year.

Teresa Farenden, who lives near the park, heard Jodie's boyfriend shouting for help immediately after the attack.

"It was horrific, it was just the blood," she told The Times.

The 49-year-old tried to perform CPR, including chest compressions, on the teenager but was unaware that the blade used in the attack was still lodged in the girl's back.

"I didn't see it because it was dark," she told the newspaper.

"I didn't realise at the time, but all I kept thinking once the police told me, was 'Have I put the knife in further by giving her compressions?'"

Jodies' grandmother described the schoolgirl’s stabbing as an “unprovoked attack”, in a public post on Facebook calling for the violence to stop.

“How have we come to this point where kids can’t have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack?” Debbie Chesney said.

“It is days like these that really do highlight how we must continue to work tirelessly with our partners and the public to tackle knife crime,” John Ross, acting Detective Chief Superintendent of Scotland Yard’s East Area Command Unit, said.

“I am urging any witnesses, anyone who saw anything suspicious or anyone with information about the incident to contact police and share what they know.”

No arrests have yet been made and the murder investigation continues.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3775, tweet MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.