Family pays tribute to boy, 16, stabbed on Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve

The siblings of a teenage boy who was killed at a popular New Year’s Eve firework viewpoint in London have shared their devastation.

Harry Pitman, 16, was stabbed on Primrose Hill shortly before midnight on Sunday near the firework viewing platform after an ‘altercation’.

Another 16-year-old was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and he is still in police custody.

Harry’s older sister Tayla, 19, said on Monday evening that her brother could be ‘mischievous and cheeky’ but he ‘didn’t have a bad bone in his body’ and ‘always stood up for what was right’.

She said: ‘It doesn’t seem real, I keep on expecting him to come through the front door. His dinner is still in the oven, mum can’t bring herself to remove it.

‘I’m devastated, he was my baby brother. He didn’t even get to see the fireworks, which is why he went to Primrose Hill in the first place.’

Harry was just 16 when he died (Picture: PA)

Crowds gathered on Primrose Hill in London for the New Year celebrations with the fireworks going off in the distance, close to where Harry Pitman was killed (Picture: pictureexclusive.com)

Tayla Lohan has shared her devastation after her younger brother Harry was killed (Picture: Facebook)

Primrose Hill was cordoned off to the public throughout Monday (Picture: SWNS)

Harry had ambitions of joining the Army and following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served in World War II.

His older brother Patrick, 18, said Harry was a huge Tottenham Hotspur fan and had gone to Primrose Hill with seven of his friends.

He said: ‘We are all distraught, it just doesn’t seem real.’

The park was cordoned off on Monday morning as dozens of police patrolled the area and turned away families hoping to walk their dogs there.

Forensics teams arrived later in the day and a forensics tent could be seen at the crest of the park, while rubbish from Sunday night’s festivities littered the hillside.

The spot is among the most popular in the capital for those hoping to watch the London Eye fireworks, and there were ‘thousands’ of people there at the time of the attack.

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Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan said: ‘My thoughts and sympathies are with Harry’s family and friends at this difficult time. He was a young man with the rest of his life ahead of him.

‘His family are understandably devastated and specially trained officers are supporting them as they come to terms with their loss.

‘A dedicated team of detectives are working hard to establish the events that led to such a senseless act of violence.’

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