Grandmother's tribute to stab boy

Ronnie Harrington says she misses her grandson deeply

The grandmother of an 18-year-old stabbed to death after being attacked by a gang has spoken of her grief.

Lewis Singleton, from Southampton, was stabbed in Obelisk Road in Woolston on 31 March 2007. He died the next day.

Rikki Johnson, 19, of Bassett, was found guilty of murder and Sercan Calik, also 19 and from Bassett, was found guilty of manslaughter.

Mr Singleton's grandmother, Ronnie Harrington, said: "Part of us is gone. He was just an innocent victim."

It doesn't matter what sentence they get, they are still alive and Lewis is dead Mrs Ronnie Harrington

Harvell Mason, 17, was convicted of violent disorder and a 16-year-old was cleared of all charges against him during the trail at Winchester Crown Court.

On Friday, Mrs Harrington, spoke about how she regularly played snooker and pool with her grandson, whose first love was football.

She said: "I will always remember Lewis as being a joker, family-orientated and unique in his own way.

"I miss him like anything - it is like part of me is gone. I used call him, 'My little Louis and my laid-back Louis'

"He was always doing odd jobs for me and the last thing he did was paint my kitchen."

Lewis Singleton suffered five stab wounds and a brain injury

Mrs Harrington said that her grandson never caused trouble and was never in trouble.

She added: "That's what hurts so much, he never went round in gangs."

Mr Singleton had been walking with his friend Craig Smith when they were attacked.

A court heard Mr Smith ran off before Mr Singleton was repeatedly stabbed and kicked by the gang.

He managed to run away and catch up with Mr Smith, but then collapsed at the side of the road, and died the next day.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had suffered five stab wounds, one 8.5cm (3.3in) deep, and a traumatic brain injury.

Mrs Harrington added: "There will never be any closure, it doesn't matter what sentence they get, they are still alive and Lewis is dead."