Girl, 13, among five held over death of man who died after street confrontation

Updated

Detectives investigating the death of a man after a confrontation with a group of youths have arrested a 13-year-old girl on suspicion of murder.

The girl is currently in custody, Essex Police have said.

Residents fought to save the man, named as Darren Kelly, 42, from Basildon, Essex, after he staggered to a block of flats after being stabbed in a street row.

A 20-year-old man, 17-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, all from Pitsea, and a 16-year-old boy from Basildon have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody, Essex Police said.

This morning, police confirmed a fifth person, a 13-year-old girl from Basildon, has also been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody.

Police confirmed the identity of the victim as Mr Kelly, from Voysey Gardens. The lorry driver died after being found with serious injuries in Caister Drive at about 9.30pm on Tuesday.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the provisional cause of death was multiple stab wounds and blood loss.

Police said they believe he had been involved in an altercation with about five youths or young men.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, who is leading the inquiry, said: "I would appeal for anyone who saw the attack to contact my team. This happened in a residential area so people would have been about."

Anyone with information about events leading to the murder is asked to contact detectives at Essex Police on 101, send an email to scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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