Greater Manchester Police are offering up a £50k reward for anyone who has information that leads to the conviction of the person who killed Kennie Carter.
The 16-year-old was stabbed in the chest on Thirlmere Avenue in Stretford on 22 January 2022, and died shortly afterwards in hospital.
He was described by his family as a ‘cheeky chappy’, as they pleaded for witnesses to come forward and bring his killer to justice.
Police are now offering a monetary reward to encourage people come forward with key information, urging ‘please do the right thing’.
12 teenagers – aged between 13 and 18 – have been arrested on suspicion of murder, but all have been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.
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#REWARD | GMP offer £50,000 reward for information that leads to the charge & conviction of those responsible Kennie Carter's murder
Kennie was killed by a single stab wound to the chest on 22/01/22
Detective Chief Inspector Alicia Smith, from GMP’s Major Investigation Team, said: “The thoughts of everyone in the investigation team remain with Kennie’s loved ones at this time. They have lived though one year without Kennie and are desperate for answers and I hope you will think of them today.
“This is a long and meticulous investigation, through which we have spoken to over 100 people, reviewed over 100 hours of CCTV and carried out dozens of warrants. We have also arrested all of the people that we wanted to speak to in connection with this incident.
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“I believe we are close to getting justice for Kennie and I am confident that there is someone out there who holds key information about this case who has not yet made themselves known to us. Please don’t assume that we already know the information you hold. What you know could be the last piece that we need.
“I understand you might be scared but I would like to stress that murder investigations are never closed. We will never stop seeking the truth and we will not stop until Kennie’s killers are safely behind bars.
“Please do the right thing – clear your conscience, come forwards and tell us what you know. I would like to thank those members of the public who have already come forwards and shared information.
“Anyone can contact us with information – no matter how insignificant it may seem – on 0161 856 9908 or 101 quoting incident 2529 of 22/01/2022. Any footage or images from the night should be submitted to our online portal here.”
Sergeant Marc Foster of GMP Stretford said: “The local community remain devastated by the death of Kennie Carter. We are continuing to support the family and are working closely with the community, providing high visibility patrols in the area. Our community has come together united against knife crime, and we will continue to support them and the investigation team to secure justice for Kennie.
“I would like to thank members of the public who have already provided us with key information. However, I would now like to address those who have not yet come forwards.
Thirlmere Avenue in Stretford, the street where Kennie Carter was fatally stabbed.
“There are people out there who know what happened that evening. Please check your conscience and do the right thing.
“It was a cowardly attack on a young teenager with his whole life in front of him.
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“The investigation is live and we are responding to any new information given. Please don’t assume we already know the information you hold. Tell us again anyway, because it might be the key to securing a charge and conviction for those responsible.”
Anyone with the following insight or information should provide a statement to GMP:
If you witnessed Kennie Carter’s murder
If you have heard key information first hand
If you have footage or images from that night
Kennie’s family said in a tribute shortly after his death: “Kennie was our youngest, our baby, our cheeky chappy with baby blue eyes. His death has left a massive hole in our lives and our family has been destroyed. We will never have the opportunity to see him growing up and having a family of his own.
“Each day when we wake the house feels empty; we can’t hear his footsteps, his voice or his music. We cannot believe how generous people have been, even people that don’t know us or Kennie directly.
“We want to ask the community to provide as much information as they can to the police so that the person responsible is brought to justice. Young lives like Kennie’s are being lost far too often and this has to stop.”
Featured image: GMP
News
‘Stunning’ Old Rectory pub in Stockport suffers permanent closure
Danny Jones
One of Stockport town centre’s most beautiful pub venues, The Old Rectory, has officially closed down permanently following notices about its “final stages”.
Built circa 1740, the historic space itself has been there since before the Regency period.
Stockport‘s Old Rectory pub on Churchgate has been a number of different things over the decades, and has changed hands multiple times in more recent years, but now the Greene King site has shut down, what seems like, for good.
In fact, if you look online, it is already listed as ‘permanently closed’ on Google, as does a temporary sign now stuck to the gates of their entrance, with the most recent service last week being their final one.
With the news having since been shared on the Stockport Tourism notice board on Facebook, a post from the ‘Old Rec’ team reads: “We are sad to announce that The Old Rectory will be closing its doors at the end of this month. Thank you to everyone who has visited and supported the venue over the years.”
An update has also now been shared on the official CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) website.
Issuing a statement directly to The Manc, a spokesperson for Greene King said: “Following a period of team member consultation, we can confirm that the Old Rectory has now closed.
“We are grateful to everyone who has supported the Old Rectory over the years, and we look forward to welcoming them into our other pubs in the local area soon.”
They also go on to assure that they have worked with the team members who have sadly been put out of work to try and find new positions at other locations, with the operators urging Stopfordians to try other nearby pubs such as Gardeners Arms in Offerton and the recently refurbished Carousel in Reddish.
Described by CAMRA as a “multi-roomed pub-restaurant that still maintains a country house feel with plenty of dark wood and plush décor”, not to mention praising the all-day food service and “top notch” beer selection, its heyday may have been long ago, but it’ll still be missed by regulars and natives.
It’s also worth noting that the former Hungry Horse public house also long-served as an accommodation spot, too, with Premier Inn’s ‘Stockport Central Hotel’ attached to the back of the building.
There are no updates on this front at present, and they could easily repurpose what natives have hailed as a “stunning” Georgian structure – not to mention the expansive garden grounds – but the company is also currently cutting more than 3,800 jobs as part of a wider savings strategy.
Elsewhere, as SK residents bid goodbye to one veteran pub, they’re also gearing up to welcome back another former favourite…
Sacha Lord set to back local hospitality again with money behind the bar of Manchester pub
Danny Jones
Local figure Sacha Lord is once again looking to help support Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene once again this spring by putting a total of £2.5k behind the bar of one lucky pub.
Well, let’s be honest, we’re about to be the real lucky ones.
It’s far from the first time that the Night Time Economy Advisor has done this, having previously put sizeable sums towards shared tabs on a few occasions over the last few years.
Lining up his next handout for this coming early May bank holiday (perfect timing), it’s going to be a super and potentially very sloppy Sunday…
Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester.
Bank Holiday Sunday 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.
Sharing the video above online earlier this week, the 54-year-old simply wrote, “Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester. Bank Holiday Sunday, 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
The message is as straightforward as ever: “Support your local pub.”
Now obviously, the fact that people can reply with their go-to boozers and help influence the decision is one thing – something that has certainly always created an attraction each time he’s done this – but it’s also just a good way of marketing these watering holes to begin with.
Whether or not someone’s favourite public house tucked away in one of the 10 boroughs, or their bar of choice here in Manchester city centre, ends up being selected or not, it’s obviously great publicity having their names plastered on a notable social media account.
This is especially so when you see how much the post itself ends up being reshared and the overall exposure Lord ultimately lends them via creating such a big crowd discussion.
Confirming the chosen pub in a subsequent post, he said: “I asked you to choose a pub you wanted me to support. This Sunday, 4pm, I’ll be turning up at The Ape and Apple on John Dalton St, Manchester, and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
Here’s hoping we get proper beer garden weather over that long weekend – especially with that lovely refurbished outdoor terrace space up on the first floor of the Joseph Holt watering hole.
It’s also worth noting that the further support stunts like this have helped garner support for other regional businesses – in particular, indies that are battling the cost of living crisis and so many other challenges within the sector – has proved crucial for some places to stay open to begin with.
A good example is the Thirsty Korean, who teamed up with the Altrincham-born entrepreneur to cover hundreds of bills back in 2023, and has now been able to expand into a larger venue down the road from their original Chorlton location.
The obstacles facing the hospitality industry remain varied and numerous, but gestures like this can go a long way to helping prop up those who need it.
Which ones are you calling your favourites these days?
Daisy Jackson -
20th January 2023 
