Fancy dress funeral for knife crime victim Ben Kinsella » Communities » 24dash.com

Friends of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella wore fancy dress to celebrate his life today.

Dozens of the 16-year-old's peers dressed up in colourful wigs and outsized sunglasses for his funeral.

Ben, the brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, died after he was stabbed in north London during a night out.

Miss Kinsella, who played Kelly Taylor in the TV soap, pleaded for others to learn from his death and lay down their weapons.

Some of Ben's friends also turned up at St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, in Islington, north London, in T-shirts bearing anti-knife crime slogans.

Ben's close friend, Brooke Dunford, 16, was among the first to arrive at the church, which is not far from where the teenager was murdered.

She said: "He was a funny bright boy. He wouldn't have wanted everyone to wear black."

She laid a bunch of flowers outside the entrance of the austere red-brick church, which read: "The most saddest day of my life, Ben, when I lost you.

"I will hold you in my heart forever, I love you, you hottie."

Ben was stabbed several times in York Way, Islington, after a fight in a bar spilled out on to the streets on June 29.

His friend Louis Robson, 16, the son of Birds Of A Feather actress Linda Robson, was with him as he died.

In the following days, up to 400 protesters marched along Upper Street in Islington to the scene of the killing to demand an end to knife crime.

Miss Kinsella, 24, said: "Now truly is the time to stand up and put an end to this.

"Please, please let us learn from Ben and every other child that has been stolen from us."

But last night, the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Freddy Moody in London brought the grim toll of teenagers killed violently in the capital this year to 21.

Arsenal fan Ben was a popular student at Holloway School in north London.

He appeared in an episode of ITV police drama The Bill in 2004 and took regular after-school drama classes at the Young Actors Theatre in north London for more than a year.

He took GCSE exams before his death and was expected to have done well. The results are released next month.

Ben's family set up a fund and website in his memory to raise awareness of the effects of gun and knife crime.

Three teenagers have been charged with Ben's murder.

Juress Kika, 18, Michael Alleyne, 18, and Jade Braithwaite, 19, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court and have been remanded in custody to October 13.

Hundreds of people lined the church entrance as Ben's purple coffin was carried inside.

Several younger mourners broke down in tears.

A number of stars from the world of entertainment and politics attended the service.

Former EastEnders' stars Michelle Ryan, Gillian Taylforth and James Alexandrou were joined by actress Linda Robson and Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn for the service.

Eight funeral cars bedecked with flowers lined the road outside the church. Some of the tributes included a giant pair of floral red shades, the words Son, Great Nephew, and a large letter X.

Police said they estimated more than 1,000 people were inside the church for the service led by Father Jim Kennedy.

Ben's coffin was carried into the church by members of his family to the song Ben by Michael Jackson.

One floral tribute to the teenager from a close friend read: "I love you, you were a beautiful star and now you will shine even brighter. I miss you so much. I love you even more." It was signed B.

His sister Brooke, wearing a yellow dress, mum Debbie, dad George and sisters Jade and Georgia were all at the service.

One of Ben's favourite songs "The Girls" by Calvin Harris was played at the end of the service.

The coffin was then brought out of the church amidst sustained applause.

During the mass a letter written by Ben's mother was read out by his sister.

The father of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor, Richard, also attended the service.

Damilola was stabbed to death with broken glass in November 2000 in Peckham, south east London.

The family then left the service for a private ceremony at the nearby St Pancras and Islington Cemetery.