Families appeal for information one year after deadly Brixton Academy crush
Families of two people killed during a gig at a south London music venue have renewed pleas for information, a year on from the incident.
Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were both killed at the O2 Brixton Academy on 19 December when people without tickets attempted to force their way into a show featuring Asake.
The venue was saved from permanent closure after the Metropolitan Police asked the local council to remove its licence – but Lambeth Council allowed it to continue operating on the basis it meets “77 extensive and robust new conditions”.
On Friday, the force released images of people they are trying to speak to in connection to the crush, adding one arrest has already been made.
Ms Hutchinson’s sisters Kelsey and Nina, and Ms Ikumelo’s parents Yetunde Olodo and Anthony Ikumelo, relaunched an appeal for information.
Rebecca Ikumel. Pic: Met Police
Mr Ikumelo called his daughter an “angel”, adding there “are still lots of questions to be answered”.
“We don’t know what happened to her, we don’t know how she died and we’re still waiting for information as to how this happened.
“The most important thing is we don’t want this to happen to another family, so the earlier we have this information the better so that other people could be prevented from suffering the same loss in future.”
Ms Olodo, 60, of Stratford in east London, added: “We just want justice. She has two young children, they are asking questions now ‘Where is mummy? When is mummy coming back?’
“What can we tell them? They are only five and seven, they don’t seem to understand what is happening.
“All we want is justice for Rebecca, for people to come forward and say what they know about the incident.”
Gaby Hutchinson. Pic: Met Police
Nina Hutchinson, 32, of Gravesend in Kent, added: “A time machine would be great. If we could go back to before then and tell her not to go to work, but that’s not going to happen so it is just doing what we need to do as a family.”
Kelsey Hutchinson said she feels “heartbroken” one year on, adding: “It’s like having an emptiness in your chest, like the world is now upside down and wrong. Just living is hard, really hard.”
She added she would like to see Asake issue his own appeal for fans with information to come forward.
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From December 2022: Chaos outside Asake gig after crush
The Met’s senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Penney, said: “We’re keen to address the tragic incident that happened 12 months ago with our investigation, and we want to let people know that we are still tirelessly working extremely hard, trying to ascertain the actual detail of how this tragic event happened.
“We are continuing our plea to those that did attend that night to come forward and tell us exactly what they saw.”
He added: “We have made one arrest and we’ve conducted four interviews. The arrest was made in October.”
‘Male A’, one of 13 people police are trying to identify in the investigation into the crushing incident
‘Male C’
‘Male G’
According to Gerald Gouriet KC, who represented the police force at a licencing meeting, about 1,000 people were outside the venue, with officers finding “large-scale disorder” with the crowds.
Representatives of Asake have been approached for comment.
UK
Family of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe pay tribute to ‘beautiful soul’ as teen appears in court charged with murder
The family of a nine-year-old girl stabbed to death have said she was a “beautiful soul” who was brave, kind-hearted and “always put a smile on people’s faces”.
Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, just before 6.10pm on Monday, where Aria Thorpe had suffered a single stab wound.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a tribute released by Avon and Somerset Police on Friday, the girl’s family on her mother’s side said: “For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Aria, she was the most beautiful little soul – happy-go-lucky, full of light, and joy.
“She loved to sing and dance, and she took such pride in dressing up, always wanting to look just like her mummy.”
Tom Thorpe, the girl’s father, said: “It’s hard to put into words how devastating it is, our little Aria, that you’re up there with the angels looking over us.”
It comes as a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared in court.
Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
Aria was a ‘precious girl’
In their statement, Aria’s family on her mother’s side said her death “has devastated us beyond words”.
“Our hearts are broken in a way we never imagined possible,” they added.
“As a family, we are holding one another close and doing everything we can to support each other through this unimaginable time.”
They said they were “truly touched by the lovely messages we have received”, before asking “that our privacy is respected, as we try to come to terms with the terrible loss of our precious girl”.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
‘Wacky ways and outright madness’
Mr Thorpe said: “How sad it’s going to be not hearing ‘Dad, how long left?’ on our long journeys back and forth at weekends.
He then said that Aria was “such a brave, kind-hearted and a beautiful innocent soul”, and “always put a smile on people’s faces with your wacky ways and just outright madness”.
Mr Thorpe added: “Your other little family down here in Portsmouth will forever miss you.
“We’ll miss you begging to go outside, even in the pouring rain just to have as much fun as possible in the little time we had at weekends.
“You will be greatly missed, you special little angel. A life gone far too early but I hope a life lived well. We all love you dearly. Goodnight darling.”
Teenager in court
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, where he was remanded.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was arrested in the Somerset village of Worle at 6.19pm on Monday.
He is next due in court on 16 March 2026. Appearing via video link from youth detention accommodation, he spoke only to confirm his name.
Judge Peter Blair KC set a provisional trial date for 15 June during the hearing.
A teenager charged with the murder of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe will stand trial in June next year.
The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.
The defendant, who appeared via video link from youth detention accommodation, spoke only to confirm his name.
During a brief hearing, Judge Peter Blair KC, the Recorder of Bristol, set a provisional trial date for 15 June 2026.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Avon and Somerset Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare just before 6.10pm on Monday, where nine-year-old Aria had suffered a single stab wound.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
The boy was arrested in nearby Worle a short time later.
His father was among those attending in the public gallery.
The teenager is next expected to appear in court on 16 March.
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