Community Mourns After Tragic Stabbing of Devoted Mum in Bexley
A close-knit community is reeling after Leila Young, a loving mother of three, died following a brutal stabbing on Penhill Road. The attack happened just after 4pm on Tuesday, January 16. Despite spending a week in critical condition, Leila succumbed to her injuries on January 23, leaving her family shattered.
Heartbreaking Tributes at the Scene
Local residents have transformed the tragic spot into a moving memorial. Candles flicker alongside flowers and handwritten notes as mourners pay their respects to Leila’s memory. One note reads, “So heart-breaking. I am so sorry this has happened to you. Sleep tight and may you rest in peace.” Another tribute honours her as a wonderful mother: “Leila, you will always be remembered for the loving, brilliant mum you are. We will never forget you.”
Family Friend Launches Fundraising Effort
Close family friend Matt Jenkins has set up a Just Giving page aiming to raise £10,000 to support Leila’s grieving children and help with funeral costs. Matt’s heartfelt message on the page highlights the devastating impact on her kids:
“Leila wasn’t just taken away from us, she was taken away from her 3 beautiful children which she loved wholeheartedly. The trauma this has had and will continue to have on these 3 beautiful babies is unimaginable.”
He calls on the community to come together, saying, “If we can help, show love and shine light and raise some money in the name of Leila, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a niece, an aunty, and a friend, then I’m sure this would make all the difference to her children and the people closest to them.”
Suspect Remanded Ahead of Old Bailey Hearing
Tony Curant, 33, from Penhill Road, appeared at 123 Magistrates Court on January 22. He was remanded in custody and is due back at the Old Bailey on February 5. Police continue to investigate the tragic stabbing that has left a community in mourning.
