Lemou Ange Lauric Lebato: Father's tribute to 'kind and caring' son stabbed to death at party

Murder victim: Lemou Ange Lauric Lebato, 22, from Hackney, London
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The father of an aspiring fashion designer who was stabbed to death after a row at a party today paid tribute to his “kind and caring” son.

Lemou Ange Lauric Lebato, 22, from Hackney, was found lying in the street after being attacked on Saturday morning.

Detectives believe he was stabbed following a row at a university party in a block of flats in Leicester which spilled out onto the road.

He was found suffering a knife wound at 4am and rushed to hospital, but doctors could not save him and he was later pronounced dead.

Today his father, Tagbeu Lebato, 48, said the former Hackney Free secondary school pupil had been running for his life when he was killed in a “random” attack.

He told how his son, known as Lauric, had sent him a text message saying “I will be home late”.

Mr Lebato, a housing management worker, said: “He was a great boy and always let me know when he was going to be late. He sent me a text and I didn’t think anything of it.

“The next thing I knew at 6am on Saturday the police were at our house. We are heartbroken.”

The family came from Ivory Coast to London for a better life when Lauric was a baby. Mr Lebato said that — according to a friend who was with his son — there had been a disturbance outside the party, causing everyone to run outside and then scatter.

As he was running, Lauric was stabbed, he said.

“His friend told me my son did not realise he had been stabbed. He must have been running for his life.”

He added: “He was a good boy and loving family person. It was my 48th birthday on Thursday and he had left me a birthday cake in the fridge. That’s the kind, caring boy he was.

“He was never any trouble and was very intelligent. He had just got a contract to design logos for baseball caps — he was a real talent.”

His sister Mireille, 22, said: “He was the best brother you could have. We just can’t understand why this has happened to us.”

Friends have been gathering outside his home in Woodberry Grove to lay flowers and candles in his memory.

Police in Leicester have urged students who were at the party to come forward, as well as anyone who may have witnessed the attack.

A police spokesman said: “Students, taxi drivers, delivery drivers, business owners opening and closing businesses, and revellers on a night out could all have information which will help the investigation.

“Small details may seem insignificant to you but may help officers.”

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