Vigil in memory of murdered Liam Taylor in Chelmsford as teens killed in Brentwood named

PEOPLE will remember murdered teenager Liam Taylor (above) at a special service in Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday.

Mourners are setting off from St Mary's Church in Great Baddow at 4.30pm for a candle-lit walk before a 20-minute service to remember him and other victims of knife crime in the cathedral from 6pm.

It will include talks warning against the dangers of knife crime.

Julie Taylor, Liam's grandmother, who is organising the event, said it was especially important after the murder of two 16-year-old boys in a suspected knife attack in the early hours on Sunday in Brentwood.

It comes as the two victims were named on social media as Charlie Preston (below) and Frankie Gater as tributes have been left for them.

Frankie's cousin Charlie Gater wrote on Facebook: "Words can't describe how sad I feel for your mum and dad Frankie. Rest in paradise." She also posted on Instagram: "It's physically causing me pain. I've lost my cousin. I can't believe you're gone, it seems like I'm lost in a nightmare. Our whole family loves you Frankie Gater. "Rest in perfect paradise. You always made me laugh and I'd be so excited to see your face. "Your smile lit a light in my soul whenever I heard your name. You was(sic) one of a kind Frankie Gater (pictured below), there is no other like you. I'm sorry you didn't get to see the rest of life."

A third victim was treated for injuries after the knifing - which police say are not life-threatening or life-changing. Detectives investigating the murders in Regency Court, Brentwood, at around 1.30am are continuing to question three people.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "So far officers have seized more than 200 hours of CCTV footage and spoken to more than 20 people as part of the investigation. "Three men – two from Grays aged 19 and 20 and a 21 year-old from South Ockendon – arrested on suspicion of murder remain in custody and we are continuing to question them." Four people – a 20 year-old man from South Ockendon, and three men from Grays aged 19, 20, and 49 – have been told they face no further action. A 40 year-old man from Brentwood has been released under investigation. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss, who’s leading the investigation, said: “Our investigation is progressing well and we are building a picture of the circumstances which led up to the boys’ death. “We have seized more than 200 hours of CCTV footage and are now methodically going through it. “We believe this was an isolated incident and there isn’t a risk to the wider public. Brentwood is a safe place and incidents like this are rare. “My team is working round the clock and you’re likely to see a police presence in the area while we continue our enquiries. “Officers from the Brentwood Community Policing Team will continue to carry out additional patrols in the area. “They’re there to provide reassurance so please do speak to them if you have any concerns. “We still need anyone who has any information about what happened, who we’ve not spoken to, to come forward.”

Anyone with information on the incident should call us on 101 and cite incident 125 of October 24. Information can also be given to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or going to https://crimestoppers-uk.org. Liam, known as Fish, was stabbed to death outside The Rose and Crown pub in Writtle on January 31 2020 after being attacked by a gang.

Daniel Daden, 22, (above right) from Bramble Road, Witham, Ryan Filby, 21, (above left) from Evelyn Place, Chelmsford, were found guilty of his murder and wounding with intent and were both sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison in August.

Louis Colgate, 19, (above) from Aldridge Close, Chelmsford, pleaded guilty to murder before the trial and was jailed for 16 and a half years.