Teenager arrested on suspicion of murder after boy, 16, dies in Chelmsford

Police were called to Waterson Vale at around 11.30pm on Sunday following reports of a boy suffering serious injuries
A police tracker dog near the scene in Waterson Vale, Chelmsford after the death of a 16-year-old boy
PA
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An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 16-year-old boy in Chelmsford, with detectives sealing off an area of woodland beside a children’s playground as they investigate.

Essex Police said officers were called to Waterson Vale at around 11.30pm on Sunday following reports of a boy sustaining “serious injuries”.

The force said that the boy was taken to hospital where he died.

Bernadette Godson, 56, who lives nearby, said that she could hear “raised voices, just shouting” at about 11pm on Sunday.

She said the voices were male, she did not know how many there were and it did not go on for long.

The scene in Waterson Vale, Chelmsford
PA

She said that since Covid-19 restrictions had lifted there had been “problems with gangs of youths, particularly at night, congregating”.

She said she would call police and was asked to keep a log of incidents.

She said that on a previous occasion a neighbour had “challenged (youths) as to what they’re doing in there (the woodland), why are they pulling branches down off trees, why are they lighting fires”.

“I’m upset,” she said.

“It’s something that could have been prevented if they’d taken this constant youth behaviour up here with the drug-selling and stuff like that seriously.

“We probably wouldn’t be in a situation where somebody lost their life last night.”

An 18-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Monday on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody.

On Monday a police cordon was in place around an area of woodland which borders an open green space in Waterson Vale, which is on a quiet housing estate.

An officer in a white forensic suit appeared to take photographs of a short path that passes through the woodland, from a road to an open area of grass.

A handler led a police sniffer dog around the wooded area.

The woodland has a children’s playground beside it where children played on Monday, and some floral tributes were left against the railings.

There is also a new section of playground under construction, behind metal fencing.

Forensic officers in Waterson Vale, Chelmsford after the death of a 16-year-old boy in Essex.
PA

Detective Chief Inspector Ashley Howard, of Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This is a tragic incident where a 16-year-old child has lost his life.

“We have a team of officers working solidly to determine what has happened here and get justice for his family.

“A cordon has been put in place at Waterson Vale and we are likely to remain there for a while whilst inquiries continue.

“I know that this may cause disruption, however it is vital we understand how this incident happened.

“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area of Waterson Vale or surrounding roads in Chelmsford last night and may have witnessed or heard anything, or anyone who has any further information, to contact us to assist with this investigation.”

Police said the 16-year-old’s family is aware and receiving support from specialist officers.

Liz Rudgewick, who lives near to the woodland, said she was unaware that anything had happened until 8.30am on Monday when she left her house to go to the gym.

“I’m quite shocked,” she said. “It’s just a sad state of affairs.”

The 55-year-old said that her children would play football on the green space when they were younger.

She said that more than 20 years ago there was a “problem with drugs on the green, but the police sorted all that out and there hasn’t been any problem since as far as I’m aware”.

A neighbour said it was “just a friendly area”, adding: “It’s a close-knit community – everybody seems to know one another.”

A man who lives nearby said: “We have youngsters sometimes in the park there, the usual sort of noise, especially in summer.

“You hear kids playing loud music, drinking, stuff like that, but nothing like this.

“It’s quite scary.”

A woman who lives close to the park said: “There’s always noise and stuff over the park.

“It’s a park so the holidays and stuff tend to create more kids hanging around.”

She said there are sometimes teenagers there, “music playing out, like a little bar, cans being drunk”.

Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to call police on 101 quoting incident 1321 of February 12.

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