Richard Everitt died in 1994

FRIENDS and family of a schoolboy stabbed to death in a racist attack remembered him on Tuesday – the 30th anniversary of his death.

And this weekend there will be a private memorial event for Richard Everitt, the 15-year-old, and a new sculpture unveiled for him at the Purchese Street Open Space in Somers Town.

Richard was fatally stabbed in 1994 in what a judge later ruled was “an unprovoked racial attack”.

The new memorial is replacing a bench and plaque that was neglected and later damaged by the council after it was moved into storage during a regeneration project and the building of a skyscraper.

His brother, Danny, told the New Journal earlier this year that relatives felt pleased the council had now done the right thing.

He said: “To be honest we are all just relieved that after all this time it’s actually being done. We’re all happy and my mum’s happy, and that’s the main thing. It’s taken 30 years. It’s been difficult at times to get the council to properly acknowledge Richard and remember him.

“That is all we ever wanted, and it shouldn’t have been this long.”

Mr Everitt had said he did not want any political point-scoring groups coming down to spoil the day.

Richard, who went to William Ellis and South Camden Community School [now Regent High], was murdered on his way home from playing a game of football with friends when he was confronted by around 20 older boys and stabbed in the back with a kitchen knife as he tried to run to safety.

The attack on Richard and his friends was said to be in revenge for a jewellery mugging by another Somers Town boy a day before – even though Richard had nothing to do with that incident.

A court case never established who delivered the fatal blow, although Badrul Miah was jailed for conspiring to murder. Other suspects left the country, police said at the time.

Richard’s murder led to tensions between youths in Regent’s Park and Somers Town estates for several years.

The Camden Action Now campaign was launched with the Everitt family in a bid to unite the Somers Town community with a series of meetings in youth clubs.

The campaign was successful in forcing improvements at some schools and on estates.