Soap star's brother killed in brawl
Updated on 29 June 2008
Two 16-year-olds have been arrested after the teenage brother of a former soap actress was stabbed to death in a London street.
Ben Kinsella, 16, is alleged to have been involved in an argument with a group of black youths prior to the incident at around 2am in York Way, Islington, north London.
He is the brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, 24, who played Kelly Taylor in the soap.
Miss Kinsella, her parents and her boyfriend, actor Ray Panthaki who also starred in the soap, were among around 50 people who earlier paid their respects at the scene.
The actress later said she is pulling out of a production of Torn at the Arcola Theatre in east London which she was due to join on Monday.
One of the murdered teenager's friends said he had received a desperate phone call for help from Mr Kinsella shortly before the stabbing.
David Dugdale, 17, said: "He called me on the phone and just said 'help'. He sounded really scared and then it just clicked off."
Another friend, who did not want to be named, said: "He was a really bright kid. He has appeared in The Bill once and his sister Brooke was in EastEnders."
Another described Mr Kinsella as a gentle boy.
She said: "He wouldn't hurt you, he wouldn't even shout at anybody.
"He was the sort of boy that was a role model for everyone else. He was a good boy."
Birds of a Feather actress Linda Robson was among those who laid flowers at the scene.
Mr Kinsella is thought to have been at a party in a nearby pub, Shillibeers in North Road, earlier in the evening.
After the stabbing, he was taken by ambulance to the Whittington hospital where he died, despite the efforts of hospital staff, police said.
Mr Kinsella is the 17th teenager to die as a result of violence in London this year.
Anyone with information should call 0208 345 3715 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
