Boy, 16, charged with murder over Twickenham playing field stabbing

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after the death of a student on a playing field in Twickenham.

Hazrat Wali, 18, was killed after a fight broke out on a playing field on Tuesday night at around 4:45pm.

The boy, from Hammersmith and Fulham, was charged on October 15 and appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

The attack is said to have happened just outside Richmond Upon Thames College where Mr Wali is believed to have been studying.

He was the 25th teenager to be murdered in the capital this year.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Detectives investigating the murder of an 18-year-old man in Twickenham have charged a teenager.

“The 16-year-old boy from Hammersmith and Fulham was charged on Friday, 15 October with the murder of Hazrat Wali.

“He will appear in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 16 October.

“Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command are investigating.”

Dr Jason Jones, principal of Richmond upon Thames College, said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family and friends at this difficult time.

“This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our students, parents, staff and local community.

“We have implemented our College’s Emergency Response Plan. This will provide assistance to our students as necessary and has evolved from local authorities’ experience with death in the past and the advice of mental health professionals from the community.

“We have deployed additional resources to the Student Services team who are providing support and counselling to students and staff on site.”

He added: “Safety remains our number one priority and we will continue to do all we can to keep our students safe at college.

Local police commander Ch Supt Elisabeth Chapple said: “Our thoughts are with the young victim and his family at this awful time.

“No young person should lose their life in London and we will do all we can to support our colleagues with their investigation.