Jodie Chesney murder: Fourth suspect arrested over fatal stabbing
Detectives investigating the murder of 17-year-old girl scout Jodie Chesney in an east London park have arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of her murder.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed a 17-year-old suspect remains in custody in connection with the killing, which took place in Harold Hill, Romford on March 1.
Two men and a boy have already been charged with her murder.
Manuel Petrovic, 20, of Highfield Road, Romford, 18-year-old Svenson Ong-a-kwie of Hillfoot Road in Romford, and a 16-year-old who cannot be named are due to face trial at the Old Bailey in September.
Another three people – including a 50-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, both from Dagenham, and a 17-year-old boy – who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have all been released under investigation.
Ms Chesney was listening to music with a group of five friends before she was approached by two males, one of which stabbed her in the back, before the pair fled the scene.
Jodie was found suffering from a stab injury at about 9.25pm. She was pronounced dead at the scene an hour later.
A post-mortem ruled the cause of death as trauma and haemorrhage.
Ms Chesney was the 18th person to be killed in London this year and the first teenage female victim.
On Friday a Met Police spokesman said: ‘A 17-year-old male was arrested on Friday, 22 March on suspicion of murder.
‘He was taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody.
‘Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 21:25hrs on Friday, 1 March, to reports of a stabbing in a park close to St Neot’s Road in Harold Hill.
‘Officers attended and found Jodie suffering from a stab injury. She was pronounced dead at 22:26hrs.’
Investigations are continuing and police are urging people to come forward with information.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
