'Heartbroken' daughter's lament for father stabbed to death in street incident

The daughter of a man killed after a row with a group of youths in the street has said she is "heartbroken" at his death.

Darren Kelly, 42, from Basildon, Essex, was stabbed to death on Tuesday night.

He staggered to a block of flats covered in blood and pleading "help me, I've been stabbed", but residents and paramedics were unable to save his life.

Five people, including a 13-year-old girl, have been arrested on suspicion of murdering the lorry driver in Caister Drive.

His daughter Zoe, who last saw her father the morning of his death when he took her to work, told of her devastation at his killing.

She said: "I'm heartbroken and to know he's not going to be round the corner any more is very hard.

"I miss him so much already and it still doesn't feel real, but I hope that wherever he is now he's at peace.

"I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say that he's going to be truly missed."

Five people - two girls aged 13 and 15 and three males aged 16, 17 and 20 - have been arrested on suspicion of murdering Mr Kelly, who lived in Voysey Gardens in Basildon.

Shocked residents told they saw paramedics desperately battle to save his life in the street.

Billie-Jo Clapp, 17, said she heard screams and shouting swiftly followed by the sound of sirens.

She said: "He was on the floor and the paramedics cut his clothes off, I could see stab marks on his legs and some on his back.

"There were lots of paramedics and police around him, they were doing really well with it and compressing him. He was completely unconscious."

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

Police and forensic teams remain in the quiet cul-de-sac at the scene looking for evidence.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I've had trouble with kids before and I just keep thinking that could have been me, I could have been stabbed."

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett appealed for witnesses to contact Essex Police on 101, send an email to scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.