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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National

Jodie Chesney murder probe: Man arrested over fatal stabbing of teenage girl, 17, in east London park

Stab victim: Jodie Chesney outside 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform in November last year

Police investigating the murder of teenager Jodie Chesney in an east London park have arrested a man in connection to her killing.

The suspect was detained in Leicester on Tuesday, Scotland Yard confirmed, four days after the 17-year-old’s death.

He remains in custody and is to be brought to London in due course to be questioned over the brutal murder, police said.

Ms Chesney was approached by two males and knifed in the back while she listened to music with friends near a children's playground in Harold Hill.

Forensic officers at the scene of the murder in east London (REUTERS)

Detectives had said investigators were "focusing totally" on a witness appeal to try and track down the suspects.

At 9.25pm on Friday police were called to the park where Miss Chesney was killed and she was pronounced dead just over an hour later.

Jodie's family released this photo of her after she was named by police (Met Police)

A post-mortem was carried out on Sunday and established the cause of Jodie's death was trauma and haemorrhage.

Ms Chesney was a keen Explorer Scout who appeared on the BBC at the Festival of Remembrance, just months before her death.

In November 2018 the teen had been filmed standing side-by-side her fellow Scouts at the Royal Albert Hall for the commemoration

The teenager was stabbed to death on Friday night

Her uncle Dave Chesney told ITV News on Sunday the family had lost a “beautiful, lovely and quirky" girl.

Mr Chesney, who said Jodie was the daughter of his youngest brother Pete, added: "We value your support and prayers at this time especially for our brother Pete, his wife Jo and Jodie's sister Lucy.

“Also for the friends that were with her at the time."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said on Tuesday night: “A male was arrested in Leicester on Tuesday, March 5 in connection with the murder of Jodie Chesney, 17.

“He remains in custody at this time.

“Arrangements will be made to transport the male to London in due course.”

No further details on the arrested man were given.

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