STEVEN

At the weekend Steven Lewis, a boy of 15, was stabbed to death after leaving a party at a community centre in Plaistow. Four teenagers have so far been arrested in connection with the murder.

(image from Steven's myspace page - now maintained by his friend)

I felt so sad to read some of the comments of his friends on the myspace page in his memory:

"R.I.P STEVEN LEWIS BORN IN PLAISTOW, LIVED IN PLAISTOW, REPPED PLAISTOW, DIED IN PLAISTOW 

REALIST YOUNGER TRU BADMAN"

"i cant believe it 

true soldier on roads.....E13"

Comments such as these show an attempt to find meaning in his death by relating the purpose of his life to the idea that he lived and died to represent his postcode.  This war-like soldier mentality expresses the way in which a growing number of teenagers in London view their lives.

Some of Steven's friends would have known Adam Regis, who was also murdered at the age of 15 in Plaistow less than two years ago.  There is a generation of teenagers in London who are growing up dealing with the pain of grief and loss, not to mention the increasing minority of children who are tormented by guilt and anger as they carry the weight of murder on their conscience.