A teenage boy has been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Harry Pitman, who was knifed at the Primrose Hill fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Harry was attacked at 11.40pm and died shortly before midnight after emergency services rushed to the scene.
The teenager, who is also 16, has also been charged with possessing an offensive weapon and will appear before Highbury Magistrates’ Court in north London this morning.
Two teenagers who were arrested on suspicion of his murder remain in custody today in a west London police station.
Lisa Ramsarran, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS London Homicide Team, said: ‘The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge a 16-year-old boy with murder following the death of Harry Pitman.
Harry Pitman (pictured) was knifed at the Primrose Hill fireworks on New Year’s Eve
The teenager, who is also 16, has also been charged with possessing an offensive weapon and will appear before Highbury Magistrates’ Court in north London this morning. Pictured: Flowers left in tribute on Primrose Hill
‘The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon.
‘Harry Pitman died after he was stabbed on Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve.
‘The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that the defendant has the right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
A 17-year-old teenager has been bailed pending further investigation.
Three other boys who were originally arrested will face no further action.
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan has previously said he does not believe there was a ‘racial or gang element’ to the tragedy.
He added today: ‘This is a fast-paced investigation, and my team is working around the clock to identify those responsible. This is clearly a significant development, and we are keeping Harry’s family informed.’
On Tuesday, Harry’s mother joined 100 mourners at an evening vigil for her murdered son.
Last night Tottenham Hotspur fans payed tribute to him with a thousands-strong round of applause in the 16th minute team as they played Burnley in the FA Cup
Three teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 18, arrested over the murder have been bailed pending further investigation
Last night Tottenham Hotspur fans payed tribute to him with a thousands-strong round of applause in the 16th minute team as they played Burnley in the FA Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley fans were urged to unite in a show of solidarity against knife crime in tonight’s FA Cup third round match at Spurs’ home ground.
Right-back Pedro Porro, who scored the single goal in the match that propelled the London side into the next round, dedicated the victory to the youngster, writing online: ‘Dedicating this win and my goal to you, Harry.’
Flanked by screens showing a photo of the teenager and the message ‘Rest in peace, Harry…#endknifecrime’ the 62,850 capacity stadium rang out with the applause of thousands.
Speaking before the match took place head coach Ange Postecoglou, a father of three boys, said: ‘You don’t even want to be thinking about the circumstances of the family and again where we are as a society … the fact that these things still happen like this and young lives are lost for absolutely no reason.
‘I couldn’t even contemplate the grief and the pain of what the family are going through.
‘I’ve always felt that football clubs are more than just the embodiment of what we do. In sport they are an extended community and an extended family for people.
‘If it even gives them the smallest crumb of comfort, then it’s the least we can do and our fans can do.
Screens inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were illuminated with an image of Spurs fan Harry and a plea to end knife crime
Burnley and Spurs fans joined in for a full minute of applause in the 16th minute of the FA Cup match on Friday night
He announced the dedication to the young Spurs fan on his official account on X, formerly Twitter
‘It’s just tragic and inconceivable that people and families still have to suffer this grief.’
Amanda Woolveridge was supported by eldest daughter Tayla, 19, and 18-year-old son Patrick as well as her brother Terry Woolveridge, Harry’s uncle.
The family congregated at Downhills Park, 200 yards from their home in Tottenham.
On New Year’s Day, Tayla and Patrick paid tribute to their ‘mischievous and cheeky’ brother who ‘always stood up for what was right’.
Fighting back tears, Tayla said from their terrace house in Tottenham, north London: ‘It doesn’t seem real, I keep on expecting him to come through the front door. His dinner is still in the oven, mum can’t bring herself to remove it.
‘He was the middle child of five. He has a younger four year old brother and a five year old sister. We haven’t told them what’s happened yet, we don’t know how to. Harry was my baby brother, he was most handsome boy you could ever meet.
‘I remember holding him in my arms for the first time when I was barely three years old. Now he won’t ever get to grow up.’
The death, which reportedly took place just minutes before midnight, made Harry at least the 17th teenager brutally killed in the capital in 2023 – most of those cruelly taken away from their loved ones in the last year had also been stabbed.
Harry’s 19-year-old sister Tayla (pictured) previously paid a heartbreaking tribute to her younger brother
She shared photos of the youngster set to the song ‘You Are My Sunshine’ by Christina Perri
Harry’s mother, Amanda Woolveridge, was seen being supported by members of her family at a vigil in Downhills Park on Tuesday evening
Tayla was called ‘Errol’ by loved ones after a character on a children’s television show he liked.
‘He would never answer to Harry at home – just ”Errol” – it was mine, Harry and mum’s little joke,’ his sister added before calling for his killer to be brought to justice.
‘I hope whoever has done this knows they haven’t just taken a life, they’ve destroyed a whole family and community,’ Tayla said.
‘I hope that thought eats away at them for the rest of their life.’
Standing outside her family’s terraced home on a smart street, Tayla continued: ‘Harry could be mischievous and cheeky and he could really wind me up at times.
‘But he didn’t have a bad bone in his body. He always stood up for what is right.
‘Although he didn’t have a girlfriend, he was a ladies man, always chatting up girls.
Police officers conduct a fingertip search on Primrose Hill on New Year’s Day
‘I was feeling down about spending New Years Eve on my own and I happened to look at my phone at 11.40pm. I don’t know what made me look at my phone but an hour later, my brother Patrick called and told me Harry had gone.
‘I’m devastated, he was my baby brother. He didn’t even get to see the fireworks, which is why he went to Primrose Hill in the first place.’
Harry attended Wilbury Primary School in Edmonton and St Thomas More secondary school in Wood Green. He was also a Catholic and had his confirmation at St John Vianney in Harringay church last Easter.
More recently, he harboured dreams of joining the army and joining the SAS.
Tayla added: ‘Our great grandfather, George Davis, was a sergeant major in the second world war. Harry wanted to follow in his footsteps and join the Army. He wanted to be on the frontline.’
Harry’s older brother Patrick, 18, said his younger sibling was a huge Spurs fan and had gone to Primrose Hill with seven of his friends, including his best friend.
He said: ‘I knew Harry better than anyone. We shared a bedroom for the best part of 16-years. I moved out of home last year and Harry came to stay with me for a while. In fact he stayed with me two nights ago.
‘We played video games and talked about getting older. He won’t grow older now, someone has taken his life away.
‘My most cherished memory is both of us running into the pitch after a celebrity charity football match at the London Stadium a few years ago.
‘He was football crazy, he was born and bred in Tottenham so was a massive Spurs fan.
‘He went to Wembley to see Spurs but never got the chance to go to the new ground. We are all distraught, it just doesn’t seem real.’