Essex murder: boy, 16, charged with stabbing James Gibbons to death

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a 34-year-old man in Essex on Sunday.

James Gibbons was stabbed in Iris Mews, in Laindon, at around 9.30pm.

Police said that despite the best efforts of medical teams and their officers, he died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found he had died from stab wounds.

Detectives say they believe Mr Gibbons had been trying to help another man when he was attacked.

A 16 year-old boy arrested shortly after the killing has now been charged with murder and is due to appear at Chelmsford magistrates’ court on Friday.

Detectives have also arrested a sixth person as part of their investigation but have not given any details about them.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder and has since been released on bail until 14 May.

Four other teenagers had also previously been arrested in connection with the murder. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of murder have both been told they face no further charges.

A 14 year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder and released on bail until 25 May, and a 13-year-old boy has been told he faces no further action in relation to the offence of murder but has been released on bail in connection with an assault offence.

Mr Gibbons was described by his family as an “amazing father of four young children, engaged to his partner of 11 years, and… a loving and supportive son and brother”.

In a statement released through police, they said: “James was a hard-working family-orientated man, who ran his own bathroom fitting company and was looking forward to a positive future for him and his family.

“This tragedy occurred after he had spent the day celebrating his two-year-old twin girls’ birthday at home and we are absolutely broken beyond belief at this pointless loss which has had a devastating effect on us all.

“James was the kind of person who would always be prepared to help anyone less fortunate than himself, which is what he was doing on Sunday night.

“As a family we are urging anyone to come forward with any information that may help the police as they investigate James’ death in the hope we can get justice.”