The parents of schoolboy Harvey Willgoose, who was stabbed to death at a school have broken their silence as they revealed the teen’s heartbreaking last words to them.
The 15-year-old was stabbed at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on Monday, tragically dying of his injuries. Another 15-year-old boy has since been charged with his murder and appeared in court today, Wednesday February 5, reports the Mirror.
Harvey’s parents Mark and Caroline spoke publicly for the first time today as they issued a poignant message about knives. Paying tribute to Harvey, described as “the life and soul of the party”, Caroline told how her son’s last words before leaving home for school on Monday were: “I love you”.
“I don’t want anybody to go through what we are going through,” she told the BBC, speaking out about knives. “Just think if it was your brother, sister, dad, mum. Can you imagine the devastation if you lost somebody through that?”
The mum also sadly revealed how she was still wearing one of her son’s “grubby” t-shirts “so I can smell him”. Harvey’s dad, Mark, said to BBC News that his son was his “best pal” and a “loveable rogue”.
He added: “We need to learn from this so no-one goes through what we have as a family”. Caroline and other family members visited the school on Tuesday, where flowers, balloons and cards had been left for the popular pupil.
A public statement released by Harvey’s family through South Yorkshire Police on Tuesday said: “We are utterly heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful boy, Harvey Goose. Our lives are devastated and will never be the same again. We have lost a beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and most importantly, a best friend to all. Harvey will be forever known for being a caring, loving and funny young man. At this difficult time we ask you to please respect our privacy as we grieve as a family.”
A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Sheffield magistrates court today charged with murder, possession of a bladed article and affray. He was remanded into youth detention accommodation by District Judge Tim Spruce to appear before the city’s crown court on Thursday.
The judge told the teen, who sat in the dock with his head bowed throughout the hearing: “You will be aware that you are charged with offences arising from an incident on Monday the 3rd of February. There is an allegation that you murdered Harvey Willgoose on that date.
“It is early days in this investigation but this allegation involves a knife, a hunting knife, being taken into school and used to stab another pupil in broad daylight, resulting in the death of that pupil.” Prosecutor Rob Coyne said a lockdown incident at the school which occurred the week prior “did not directly involve” the defendant or Harvey.
The school had gone into lockdown after there were “threats of violence” between pupils, parents were told on January 29. A mass will be held for Harvey at St Joseph’s church in Handsworth at 10am on Saturday.
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