The family of a 19-year-old man who was stabbed to death in Wolverhampton have launched a fundraising appeal to return his body to his home country of Anguilla, after two 12-year-old boys were charged with his murder.
Shawn Seesahai was killed while with friends on playing fields in the East Park area of Wolverhampton last week.
A GoFundMe appeal set up by Seesahai’s uncle, Ryan Shiwcharan, said his nephew was “a vibrant 19-year-old who tragically lost his life in a senseless act of violence while on a family trip to the UK”.
He said the family were “faced with the urgent need to bring Shawn back home to Anguilla, where his family can say their final goodbyes and find some semblance of peace”.
“The unimaginable grief is compounded by the financial strain of arranging for his body to be transported,” he said.
The boys charged with his murder, who cannot be named because of their age, were due to appear at Wolverhampton crown court on Monday.
On Friday they appeared at Wolverhampton youth court, sitting at Birmingham magistrates court, and they were remanded in youth custody.
The prosecutor Iqra Naeem said Seesahai had arrived in the country in April.
Police said emergency services were called to the playing fields just before 8.30pm on 13 November where Seesahai was found with stab injuries. Paramedics worked on Seesahai but he died at the scene.
In a tribute, Seesahai’s mother said her son “was a courageous, compassionate and confident young soul who sadly lost his life at the age of 19. He was looking forward to accomplish many future plans and ambitions. He cared dearly about his family and friends and he absolutely loved to help people. He was a generous person and had a good personality.”
