On March 3, 19-12 months-previous Tai O’Donnell was discovered at his house in Alpha Road, Croydon having suffered numerous stab wounds to his thighs.
He was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
On March 7, 22-12 months-previous Kamila Ahmad of Robinhood Lane, Mitcham, was arrested and subsequently charged along with his homicide.
Tai’s mom, Stacey O’Donnell, has mentioned that her world has been shattered by his death, and that the entire household has been left “damaged”.
Stacey, 35, is a mom-of-4 and lives in Croydon.
She mentioned in a heartfelt assertion: “Tai was my first little one and can at all times be my child.
“He was one in 1,000,000, a loving, sort, stunning human being and we as household couldn’t be prouder of the person he was rising into.
Tai and his siblings: Isabella, 7, India, 8, and child Elijah
(Image: WTS Media)
“Tai’s ardour in life was to care for people who he cherished.
“One of the issues he wished most in life was for the world to hear his music and to have the option to purchase me a home.
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“He deliberate to go on to college and actually wished to make one thing of himself, and his academics and friends mentioned he had each potential and the drive wanted to obtain these objectives.
“From writing music lyrics to making beats or drawing and portray, beatboxing and dancing, Tai blew us all away along with his artistic abilities, allure charisma and excessive vitality.”
‘Tai was my first little one and can at all times be my child,’ mentioned mum Stacey
(Image: WTS Media)
Tai had turned 18 simply earlier than the pandemic took maintain, that means he by no means received the prospect to do “any of the issues that the majority youngsters cannot wait to expertise”.
“He by no means received to go to nightclubs and music festivals or journey to completely different elements of the world,” Stacey mentioned.
“He was so trying ahead to returning to school and hoping to get again to regular.”
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The teenager’s mum mentioned he “deserved so a lot better” than what occurred to him.
She mentioned: “Tai’s life got here to a horrific and tragic finish while within the security of his own residence, he deserved so a lot better than this.
“He deserves to be remembered for the superb younger man he was – not simply one other statistic.
Tai and his dad, Ashley
(Image: WTS Media)
“A lovely soul has been taken from this world far too quickly.
“We are completely damaged with out him and he has left a devastating void in mine and our entire household’s lives. It can by no means be stuffed.
“As a household we implore folks please put down your knives.”
Tai’s household have launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to assist cowl the prices of the funeral “to give Tai the ship off he deserves.”
At the time of writing, they’ve raised an exceptional £6,175 of their £8,000 goal, thanks to the kindness of pals, household and strangers.
Ahmad was remanded into custody to seem on the Old Bailey on May 26.
Pictures from the scene on March 3 confirmed police having cordoned off a residential constructing on the finish of Alpha Road, believed to be a townhouse that has been transformed into flats.
Did you recognize Tai O’Donnell? If you need to pay tribute to him, e-mail [email protected]
