Killer of Islington 'legend' 'didn't look back' after stabbing him to death
"The man who lost his life in North London last night was 'randomly stabbed in the back by a young kid who didn't look back'.
"Tony Eastlake, in his 50s, died in Essex Road in Islington after being attacked just before 5.30pm yesterday.
"He had run the flower stall near Essex Road station for around 40 years and was known as a "friendly man and a local legend."
"Tony had left his stall and is thought to have been on his way to dinner with his friend, who lives a few hundred metres down Essex Road, when he was stabbed.
"He was "randomly stabbed in the back by a 'young kid' who didn't look back," said the friend, Mark Kennedy, with whom Tony had grown up.
"The stabbing happened outside Mark's house and he ran out with another of Tony's friends, Shannon.
"The pair were with Tony when he died.
"When the ambulance arrived, medics did their best to save him, even conducting "open heart surgery in the street," according to Mark.
"Remembering his friend, Mark said: "He was one of the most placid men. Never been in a fight, never been arrested."
"Shannon, who was also there when Tony died, said he was a "lovely, amazing friend."
"Tony Laws, who worked with Tony years ago in a fruit shop and has been a good friend since, said: "Not a bad bone in his body. Such a smashing guy a lovely lovely guy."
"Local residents gathered around his flower stall this morning, bringing bouquets of flowers, lighting candles, and writing messages on his stall.
"The resounding sentiment was that Tony was a kind and generous man and a key member of the community who will be sorely missed.
"Locals recalled walking past Tony every day and being greeted with a smile.
"Even those who had just passed him by and never spoken to him had warm memories.
"He was known to be incredibly trusting, and would let people come back another day to pay if they didn't have the money.
"Other residents remember buying their Christmas trees from Tony and always seeing him chatting with someone.
"One woman said: “We’ve lost a legend of Essex Road.”
"Katie, 75, who has known Tony since he was a boy helping his father at the stall, which he took over when he was 16, said: "It brings home all the knife crime. So far it’s been over there... you don’t know the people. But now... It’s awful. Unspeakable."
"Police have launched a murder investigation into the case.
"In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at 17:27hrs on Saturday, 29 May to reports of an injured man on Essex Road, N1.
"Officers attended and found a man suffering from a stab wound and immediately provided first aid.
"Despite their efforts, and that of the London Ambulance Service, the man, believed to be aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene at 17:58hrs."
"A post-mortem examination will be held in due course, the statement added, and formal identification awaits.
"A crime scene remains in place with police cordons erected in the area."
