The pregnant partner of a rapper stabbed to death at Notting Hill Carnival has shared pictures of her baby bump and told how she will keep his memory alive for their unborn son.
Oshian Edwards paid tribute to Takayo Nembhard, 21, from Bristol, saying she would see him in their son “every day”.
Mr Nembhard, also known as rapper TKorStretch, died in hospital after suffering stab wounds on Ladbroke Grove, west London, during the carnival on Monday evening. Police said there were seven reported stabbings in total during the event.
“Takayo my sweet beautiful boy, all I can ask is why over and over again,” Ms Edwards wrote on Instagram, describing him as “the most kind hearted, loving, funny and caring” person.
“I’m sat here with sore eyes and a heavy heart as I’ve cried consistently for the last 12 hours while carrying your unborn son. I will remind him daily about how great you were as a son, brother, boyfriend and friend too!”
Ms Edwards shared pictures of herself and Mr Nembhard, as well as a photo of her bump and pregnancy scans. Their baby boy is due in November.
“The love I have for you will never stop and I will honour your name every day,” she said.
Ms Edwards said she felt their baby kicking as she held Mr Nembhard’s hand “for the last time”, adding: “It broke me.”
She continued: “It’s just not fair, we live in such a cruel world. I’m so angry yet keep being told I have to stay strong for the baby…
“I love you wholeheartedly and I’m so glad I get to share something so special with you and I know I’ll see you in him every day.”
In a separate tribute, she said she was “grateful to be carrying a part of you” and added: “Love you in this life and the next.”
‘He was close to greatness’
Mr Nembhard was visiting the carnival with his sister and friends, his manager Chris Patrick said.
The rapper has more than 300,000 plays on one of his songs on Spotify and nearly 11,000 monthly listeners.
Writing on Instagram, Mr Patrick told how he met the musician as a teenager two years ago.
“That meeting took us on a journey… we recorded some great music together. His talent was endless and I can tell you guys he was close to greatness…
“My deepest condolences to TK’s Mother & Father his Brother, 2 Sisters, Girlfriend and child that will never meet his father! TK was a good kid, a good guy and what has happened breaks my heart.”
Mr Nembhard also played football as a schoolboy, spending time as an academy player for Bristol Rovers.
Paying tribute, the club said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of his death and paid condolence to his family and friends.
Police release carnival arrest figures
A murder investigation is under way after Mr Nembhard’s death.
Met Police officers were called to reports of a stabbing under the Westway flyover on Ladbroke Grove at about 8pm on Monday, the force said.
Paramedics and police officers gave first aid at the scene, but Mr Nembhard later died in hospital.
There had been 209 arrests made in connection with the carnival by early on Tuesday, the force said, including 46 for assault, 36 for possession of drugs, 33 for possession of an offensive weapon, 27 public order offences and eight sexual assaults.
There were 35 arrests labelled as “other” – 10 for possession of psychoactive substances, seven for drink or drug-driving, five for criminal damage and one each for theft and robbery.
A total of 441 people were stopped and searched across the two days. Some 74 officers were injured during the event, with police saying a number of these injuries were as a result of incidents involving alleged assaults.