Jasmine Forrester: Tributes paid after 11-year-old dies following stabbing at Wolverhampton house
Tributes were today paid to 11-year-old schoolgirl Jasmine Forrester, who died hours after being stabbed at a house in Wolverhampton.
Jasmine was found with multiple injuries including a serious head wound at an address in Kent Road on Friday morning, but died later in hospital. A post-mortem is due to be held on Sunday. Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the tragedy.
A 51-year-old suspect, who police said is related to Jasmine, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The suspect was treated in hospital for a cut hand.
A woman in her 80s, believed to be the Jasmine's grandmother, suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder during the incident and has been treated in hospital.
It comes a day after a man was seriously injured after being stabbed at a Wolverhampton barbers in a ‘targeted attack’ and less than three weeks after eight-year-old girl Mylee Billingham was killed in a stabbing in Brownhills, Walsall.
The latest tragedy is the sixth stabbing in Wolverhampton inside a fortnight. A 17-year-old boy was attacked in an alleyway on Jameson Street, in Whitmore Reans, at around 2.10am on February 3. A man in his 20s was knifed four times in Lime Street Park in Pennfields, while two schoolboys were stabbed in Owen Road and Ashland Street on January 26.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, was woken by the commotion that night. She said she called the police after Mrs Forrester came to her house in a distressed state.
A resident of Kent Road, who also did not want to be named, said: “It’s a nice, quiet family. They’re friendly.”
Another neighbour said: “I’ve lived here five years and it’s a nice area. They’re a quiet family. I’m so sorry to hear what’s happened. I’m in shock.”
Another neighbour Mrs Faje Kaur Chand described Mrs Forrester and a 'friendly, gentle lady' who took in other children despite having a large family herself.
She said Jasmine was 'a lovely girl' who would wave whenever she was passing by the house.
The pensioner had at least seven children and numerous grandchildren but still found time to look after others.
"She used to be a registered childminder, a lovely lady who was gentle and friendly," said Mrs Chand. "One day I had a knock on my door and she'd sent round a bunch of flowers for me and another bunch to Mary nextdoor for being her favourite neighbours.
"It was such a sweet thing to do. They were delivered by her daughter who had quite a few children with her, some were grandchildren but she said the others had been adopted by her mother."
Scores of comments have been left on the Express & Star's Facebook page.
Kay Leigh Jay wrote: "R.I.P. angel. Such a happy vibrant soul taken way too soon. Sleep tight."
Kerry Bould said: "R.I.P. Jasmine, so so heart breaking to hear of something like this happening to a young girl. Fly high with the angels."
Map of the area:
Meanwhile Sandra O'connor said: "A new bright star will shine in the sky tonight, R.I.P. Jasmine."
Jane Stevenson echoed the thoughts of many, saying: "Awful. What on earth is happening to Wolverhampton with all this knife crime? Just a gorgeous little girl. So upsetting."
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Jill Price added: "Yet another young life taken so soon. R.I.P. little lady."
Sarah Louise Johnson said: "Horrified at the amount of knife crime in the Midlands currently. Thoughts are with this girl's family at this awful time."
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting log 77 of February 9. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
