Three held after fatal stabbing

Three teenagers have been arrested after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death at a house party in Colchester, Essex, on Saturday night, with reports that the event had attracted up to 100 uninvited guests via Facebook.

Jaw Whitson, from Clacton, was taken to Colchester General Hospital with abdominal injuries after being attacked outside the house in Marlow Way. He died a short time later.

A 17-year-old boy and two 18-year-old men were being questioned at three separate police stations last night. One 15-year-old girl, Shannon Summers, told the Essex County Standard that the altercation "started in the garden, it was one on one and then others got involved" before the fight moved to the front of the house.

The party was hosted by a teenage girl, supervised by her mother. Essex Police said that about 100 people had attended, but some of the guests told local newspapers that the total may have been nearer 200.

Neighbours spoke of dozens of teenagers gathering outside the house, with empty bottles of vodka and cans of beer still visible yesterday.