Mural brings 'light' after teenager's death

The family of a teenager who was stabbed to death just metres from his home say a mural of him has "brought back the light".

Eddie Kinuthia, 19, died in hospital after being ambushed and stabbed multiple times in the Grosvenor Road area of St Pauls, Bristol, in July 2023.

After years of working to find the right spot to remember him, his family are now finally able to see the artwork commemorating him at the heart of their community.

His brother Elliot Kinuthia said he wanted the mural to "change the narrative" around Eddie's death and encourage people to find "positivity and embrace your brightness".

Zachariah Talbert-Young was found guilty of Eddie's murder and sentenced to a minimum of 34 years in prison in November - 858 days after the teenager's death.

Talbert-Young never revealed his motive for the killing, but the trial at Bristol Crown Court heard of a longstanding gang rivalry between the 1-6s and the 2-4s, who operate in different parts of the city.

The mural, which shows Kinuthia smiling against a vibrant purple background, was created by local artist and friend of the family Keyane Allman.

"His smile was super infectious, the type of smile where if you see it you just have no other choice but to smile as well," said Elliot.

"He was a very personable guy, you'd just walk into a room and he'd light it up. He would talk to anybody, make everybody feel good, make you smile, make you laugh, uplift you if you were feeling down," he added.

The mural also features a large blank space, which the family hope will be used by local young people to share memories of the aspiring musician, as well as messages of hope and positivity.

Asked what message he would leave on the wall, Elliot said he would use the space to "tell him how much I love him, how much we adore him and miss him and how much I'm dedicated to making sure he will live on through his music forever."

"Wherever I go, he's going to be with me regardless, and that's the same for everybody here and for a lot of people in the city and in the community," he added.

Their mother, Irene Muthemba, said it was "healing" to see the mural, adding: "Young people who live here, they can leave a handprint there and take ownership in a positive way and say 'this is our space, it's a place of love, a place of peace and joy', and that's what it's all about."

"This is just the beginning, because it brings back the light we felt had been lost," she added, telling the BBC she hoped the mural would help save lives.

"The aim of it is just to keep the memory of Eddie and keep the message across, what the true price of this kind of loss that we have experienced so many times in this country, in this city, and to keep the memory fresh for young people so they can make better choices in the future."

Ullman, the artist behind the project, said "a lot of energy" had gone into the mural, but that "the experience of seeing the community and how much it means to them" had been its true impact.

"Obviously since the incident happened, a lot of people associate his name with his tragic death," he explained, adding: "But for me and the family, it's about showing the greatness behind this person.

"So when his name gets brought up and you hear Eddie King, you hear a person with joy in their heart who treated people with respect."

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