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
Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
Daisy Jackson -
20th January 2023 
