Police investigating the murder of Harry Pitman during New Year’s Eve celebrations on Primrose Hill today released images of two youths they wish to speak to.
The 16-year-old was killed as he watched New Year’s Eve fireworks from Camden, north London surrounded by thousands of revellers.
Today the officer leading the investigation said there was ‘no racial or gang element’ to the stabbing and it appeared to be a ‘spontaneous fight’.
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan said: ‘We are working at pace to identify and speak to everyone in the immediate vicinity of the murder, and to that end, I have issued two images and am asking anyone who can name the people pictured to get in touch.
‘Similarly, if you see yourself pictured, please contact us without delay. It may be that you have information that could help us, or that we can eliminate you from our enquiries.
Police today released photos of two youths they want to speak to over the murder of Harry Pitman on Primrose Hill
Today the officer leading the investigation said there was ‘no racial or gang element’ to Harry’s stabbing and it appeared to be a ‘spontaneous fight’
‘Harry’s family is devastated. He was a vibrant young man who should have had his life ahead of him. We continue to support them as they struggle to come to terms with their loss.’
Three teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 18, arrested over the murder have been bailed pending further investigation.
On Tuesday, Harry’s mother joined 100 mourners at an evening vigil for her murdered son.
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, Harry’s older sister Tayla, 19, and older brother, Patrick paid tribute to their ‘mischievous and cheeky’ Harry who ‘always stood up for what was right’.
The pair described their family’s utter heartbreak, with their mother unable to remove Harry’s dinner that he was supposed to eat when he returned home from the oven.
Fighting back tears, sister 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 murder, which took place just minutes before midnight, made him 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.
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.
Harry’s mother, Amanda Woolveridge, was seen being supported by members of her family at a vigil in Downhills Park on Tuesday evening
Around 100 people gathered at the park, which is close to Harry’s home in Tottenham, to pay their respects to him
Harry’s 19-year-old sister Tayla (pictured) previously paid a heartbreaking tribute to her younger brother
‘That sometimes meant Harry got into fights but he would never use a knife, he wouldn’t dream of ever carrying any weapon. He wasn’t involved with any gangs whatsoever.
‘He was a tall boy, 6ft3, and so could look after himself. Although he didn’t have a girlfriend, he was a ladies man, always chatting up girls.
‘I was feeling down about spending New Years Eve on my own and I happened to look at my phone at 11.40pm, the exact time Harry was stabbed. 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.’
Crowds on Primrose Hill stand and watch as fireworks go off in the distance on New Year’s Eve
Police officers conduct a fingertip search on Primrose Hill on New Year’s Day
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.’
Primrose Hill – an exclusive London suburb where houses are sold for multimillion pound sums – was cordoned off on New Year’s Day as dozens of police patrolled the area and turned away families hoping to walk their dogs through the park.
Forensics teams arrived later in the day and a forensics tent could be seen at the crest of the park, while litter from the festivities littered the hillside.
The spot is among the most popular in the capital for those hoping to watch the London Eye fireworks.
A forensic team team at the park on New Year’s Day
A local resident told : ‘My son was there last night. At around 11.40 -11.45pm, two police cars were driving slowly through the crowds up to the top of the hill.
‘A young lad had been stabbed and was lying on the floor. There were too many people to clear away completely so the officers had to tape off a small patch where the boy had fallen.
‘Those officers and paramedics then worked on him, trying to save his life, basically as fireworks were being let off and people were whooping and hollering.
‘It was a strange, eerie scene and a damning indictment on the knife violence gripping London.
‘This wasn’t a small event, there must have been around 30,000 people on the hill at that time last night.
‘It’s always been busy up there on New Year’s Eve but last night was as packed as I’d ever seen it.
‘This young lad was murdered in clear view of people.’
One local woman said there were ‘hundreds if not thousands’ of people there at the time of the attack.
Three teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 18, arrested over Harry’s murder have been bailed pending further investigation
She said it was ‘absolutely tragic and shocking’ that a teenager could be killed on her doorstep, adding: ‘It’s not just a young people’s party – there would have been families with young children there, too.
‘It would have been rammed. It’s not just locals – people come from miles around.’
Several others said they saw police searching revellers before they were allowed to leave the park, forming queues which took a long time to clear.
DCI Grogan added: ‘Our enquiries so far have established that there was no racial or gang element to this incident, it appears to have been a spontaneous fight between two people who didn’t know each other, that quickly escalated to extreme violence.
‘Despite having made three arrests, I am still very keen to hear from anyone who has footage or information that could assist our investigation, particularly if you can name any of the people in the images.
‘I would also like to thank everyone who has come forward so far, the response from the public has been exceptional. Please continue to come forward if you can help.’
If you have information please call the investigation team direct on 020 8785 8099, on 101 or Tweet on ‘X’ @MetCC.
You can also share information online. To remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.