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‘Ray of light’: Tributes to mobility scooter user stabbed to death

3 months ago
'Ray of light': Tributes to mobility scooter user stabbed to death

A man who used a mobility scooter has been stabbed to death in east London.

Jade Anthony Barnett, 38, was attacked on Wednesday afternoon and two men have since been arrested.

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Jade Anthony Barnett

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 3.38pm on Wednesday to reports of a fight in Rushmore Road, Clapton, and found a man with a stab injury.

He was treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tributes on Overbury Street, near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton. Pic: PA
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Tributes on Overbury Street, near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton. Pic: PA

Tributes on Overbury Street, near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton. Pic: PA
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Tributes on Overbury Street, near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton. Pic: PA

His sister, Simone Barnett, 45, from Hackney, told the PA news agency that her brother was “jolly, cheerful, caring” and he never took anything “too seriously… he laughed everything off”.

A local resident, Paul Edgar, told Sky News that Mr Barnett was “a really good man” and a “thoroughly decent guy”.

He added that the stabbing was “very shocking” and just one other similar incident had happened in the area in the 50 years he had lived there.

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A police officer stands by a police cordon as members of the public lay tributes on Overbury Street, near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton. Pic: PA
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A police officer stands by a police cordon as members of the public lay tributes on Overbury Street, near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton. Pic: PA

Another neighbour, Jacquie, said Mr Barnett was a “ray of light” and had a “face that could light anyone’s day”.

She added that he was “super nice” and “a joy to see”. She called him “Mr Sunshine” because “his smile would just lift you”.

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‘He never had a bad bone in his body’ said Mr Barnett’s neighbour

“The community is just devastated because he didn’t deserve that. He was never nasty to anyone, he never had a bad bone in his body,” she told Sky News.

A police tent on Overbury Street near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton, east London, after a man in his 30s was stabbed to death. Two men have been arrested. Picture date: Thursday August 29, 2024.
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A police tent near the scene in Rushmore Road, Clapton. Pic: PA

Mr Barnett used to live in Clapton with his mother but his friends said he had moved to the Stratford area.

He is believed to have lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in 2007.

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Two men, aged 28 and 21, have been arrested and remain in custody at an east London police station.

A black and grey electric wheelchair could be seen standing behind the cordon close to a forensics tent at the scene late on Wednesday evening.

Forensic officers at the scene in Rushmore Road. Pic: PA
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Forensic officers at the scene in Rushmore Road. Pic: PA

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “Our investigation is still in the early stages and my detectives are working hard to establish the circumstances of what has happened.

“If anyone has any information about this tragic incident, I urge them to come forward and speak to us, or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously with any information.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time. The public can expect to see continued and significant police activity in the local area as we continue with our rigorous investigation.”

Anyone with any information has been asked to call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X, formerly Twitter, quoting CAD 4793/28AUG.