.png)
9 months ago
42
The devastated parents of a murdered 17-year-old schoolboy still WhatsApp him every day.
On July 25, Charlie 'Cheeks' Cosser was stabbed multiple times at a party in the grounds of a farmhouse in the village of Warnham, West Sussex.
His alleged killer, a 17-year-old, was said to have suffered amnesia because he had drunk so much alcohol.
He cannot be named for legal reasons and is due to go on trial on May 13, 2024. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
The stabbing was said to have come after an argument.
Undated family handout photo issued by Sussex Police of 17-year-old Charlie Cosser who died after being stabbed multiple times at an address in Warnham, West Sussex
Charlie's parents, Martin and Tara, said they cannot bear the thought of their son's name dropping down in the list of chats in WhatsApp and so they continue to message him, knowing they won't receive an answer.
Sometimes they update their beloved son, who wanted to be a groundsman for Chelsea football club, on their lives.
Tara, 47, told The Times: 'I don't want to be scrolling down to find him, ever.'
Charlie's mother also said she leaves the bathroom light on and the back door unlocked as she used to when he was out since his tragic death.
When his parents were informed by police of Charlie's stabbing, they were in total disbelief.
Tara recalled: 'I thought, "These things don't happen. He'll need patching up and then we can bring him home".'
But tragically, he died three days later surrounded by relatives. His funeral was attended by 700 people.
Now his parents are dedicating their lives to teaching young people about the dangers of knives and are setting up a charity called Charlie's Promise.
They are due to go to Downing Street next year to meet the chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who is also their MP, and justice secretary Alex Chalk about the laws surrounding knives.
Police cars attend the scene in West Sussex where Charlie 'Cheeks' was tragically stabbed
A police evidence tent on the grounds of the £1.5million mansion where the end-of-term party was taking place
Marin whispered in his son's ear on his deathbed, promising to do all he could to tackle knife crime.
He said: 'I promised him I would make it my life’s work to talk in schools and to young people about the devastating impact of knife crime on families.
'Charlie wasn’t in a gang, he wasn’t a fighter. He didn’t even like raised voices. If this can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.'
In November, it was revealed that Charlie's friends had raised more than £30,000 for Lives Not Knives, a charity dedicated to preventing youth violence in London.
Following Charlie's death, in a statement issued alongside their two other children, Adam and Eloise, his parents said: 'Our lives have been destroyed by the tragic and unnecessary loss of our son.
'Despite courageously battling right till the very end of his young and innocent life, his injuries were too severe and he tragically passed away on the evening of July 25.
'He was the most caring, cheeky, loving son and brother we could have ever wished for, and we cannot imagine a life without him.
'Charlie's wider family are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden loss. His grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are struggling to come to terms with this tragic event.
'Tributes have been pouring in from Charlie's wide circle of friends which we would like to acknowledge have brought us huge comfort in our darkest hours.
'We would also like to thank on our and Charlie's behalf, all of the efforts of the emergency services who treated him on the scene, as well as the whole of the critical care team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, who did absolutely everything they could to save our precious boy, with the utmost compassion, empathy, sympathy and care.
'His ridiculously silly sense of humour will be deeply missed by everyone that knew and loved him.'
The 17-year-old played youth football for a team called Milford Pumas with his mum acting as the club's secretary.
Her husband Martin changed his Facebook cover photo on the day his son died.
Martin's photo showed Charlie and his older brother Adam at Wembley Stadium attending an England international. The posting attracted message of condolence.
Adam is manager of the Milford Green football club and Charlie was a member of the squad.
Charlie's grandfather Steve is a Tory councillor and former Mayor of the stockbroker town of Godalming in Surrey.
He was too distraught to speak at his home answering the door in floods of tears.
Mr Cosser was a Surrey County councillor from 2009 until 2017 and Mayor of the town from 2011-2012.
If you want to donate to Charlie's Just Giving Page then you can do so by following the link HERE.
English (US)